Patterning barriers to lateral diffusion in supported lipid bilayer membranes by blotting and stamping

Two new methods are introduced for patterning fluid lipid bilayer membranes on solid supports. These methods are based on the observation that supported membranes undergo self-limiting lateral expansion when bilayer material is removed from the surface or when it is deposited in a pattern on a surface. Spatially selective (patterned) removal of bilayer material can be achieved by using a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) stamp. Following slight lateral expansion into the bilayer-free region created by this blotting process, stable barriers to lateral diffusion are formed. Inspection of the barrier regions indicates that nearly all of the bilayer material is removed, implying that it has been transferred to the stamp. As a consequence, it also proves possible to transfer the lifted material From the stamp onto a fresh surface. The transferred material retains the original pattern from the stamp and is also laterally mobile, and the mobility is confined to the printed region. Alternatively, bilayers assembled on a PDMS stamp can be printed onto fresh surfaces. Together these methods constitute a simple and powerful approach for preparing patterned fluid bilayers in nearly any geometry.