Recessed Ag/AgCl Microelectrode-Supported Lipid Bilayer for Nanopore Sensing

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Nanotechnology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Biological nanopores in supported lipid bilayers are crucial for single-molecule sensing (e.g., DNA, miRNA).
• Improving lipid bilayer stability and measurement ease is a key research goal.
• Existing methods often require complex microfabrication or microdroplet manipulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel, simplified method for preparing stable supported lipid bilayers.
• To demonstrate the utility of this new platform for nanopore sensing applications.

Main Methods:

• A recessed-in-glass Ag/AgCl microelectrode was used as a support structure.
• Lipid bilayers were formed by immersing the microelectrode in a layered oil/lipid and aqueous electrolyte solution.
• The platform was tested for channel current measurements and single-stranded DNA detection.

Main Results:

• A stable, supported lipid bilayer was successfully formed on the Ag/AgCl microelectrode tip.
• The platform enabled channel current measurements of pore-forming toxins.
• Single-molecule detection of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) was achieved.

Conclusions:

• The Ag/AgCl-supported lipid bilayer offers a stable and easy-to-prepare platform for nanopore sensing.
• This method has the potential for wide adoption in the field of single-molecule analysis.
• The simplified procedure overcomes limitations of existing microfabrication-dependent techniques.