earticle

영어

We have formerly described a rapid and novel method of forming a suspended lipid bilayer by dispensing a buffer droplet into the oil and water. The technique of forming lipid bilayer through dispensing a buffer droplet has ameliorated laborious and technical requirements. Here, we demonstrate an innovative technique, implementing previous method of producing a lipid bilayer from a falling droplet, to make lipid bilayer storable. The technique of flash freezing the chamber using -80℃ methanol has enabled long-term storage of bilayer lipid membrane. Use of 4:1 mixture of hexadecane and n-decane with 1% asolectin ensures high freezing point, which is the optimal condition for capturing an aqueous droplet while it’s in the oil phase. Once frozen, the chamber is stored in a freezer below 0℃. In the thawing process, the gravity automatically draws the droplet down to the interface, where monolayer has formed, to initiate lipid bilayer formation, as reported in our previous work. This novel method has shown a potential not only for automated lipid bilayer formation, but also long-term storable lipid bilayer that could relieve laborious and expert task. Moreover, lipid bilayer technique, as an alternative mean to measure ion channel can be promoted extensively. Storing lipid bilayer precursor frozen with ion channels will automatically drive membrane formation and ion channels will subsequently be incorporated. This system as a whole can be automated, leading to fully labor free experiment that can be carried out in any place, increasing the accessibility to bilayer measurements This golden technique can finally provide applications for nanobio sensors, drug screening, and DNA sequencing.