HIGHLY STABLE BILAYER-LIPID MEMBRANES (BLMS) FORMED ON MICROFABRICATED POLYIMIDE APERTURES

Microfabrication is used to realize a polyimide aperture for highly stable bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs). The microfabrication process used in this work is compatible with standard processes used in microelectronics. The physical features of the aperture, such as diameter, thickness and tapering of the edges are precisely controlled during the microfabrication process which results in high yield and reproducibility of the polyimide apertures. A study of BLM stability using precise measurements of specific capacitance shows that the BLM is stable up to 50 h. Alamethicin channels were successfully incorporated into these membranes further proving their bilayer nature. Vesicles containing reconstituted nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) were fused to the BLMs. The successful incorporation of functioning ion channel activity into highly stable BLMs promises a future class of miniature sensors that are very sensitive with fast response times.