A novel method to fabricate patterned bilayer lipid membranes

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Surface Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Tethered bilayer lipid membranes (tBLMs) are crucial for studying membrane proteins and cellular processes.
• Creating well-defined tBLMs on surfaces remains a challenge.
• Patterned surfaces offer precise control over membrane formation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel photocleavable self-assembled monolayer (SAM) method for patterning surfaces.
• To form stable and well-defined tethered bilayer lipid membranes on these patterned surfaces.
• To characterize the properties of the formed tBLMs.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of gold surfaces with photocleavable SAMs containing ortho-nitrobenzyl moieties.
• Patterning of surfaces using soft UV irradiation (365 nm) through a photomask.
• Formation of tBLMs by exposing patterned surfaces to egg phosphatidylcholine (egg PC) vesicles.
• Characterization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).

Main Results:

• Successfully created patterned surfaces with distinct hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions.
• Formed tethered bilayer lipid membranes with well-defined bilayer and monolayer areas.
• Measured membrane resistance of 0.52 MΩ·cm² and capacitance of 0.83 μF·cm⁻².

Conclusions:

• The photocleavable SAM method provides a versatile approach for fabricating patterned surfaces for tBLM formation.
• This technique allows for precise control over membrane architecture.
• The characterized tBLMs exhibit properties suitable for various biosensing and biomimetic applications.