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Updated: Sep 26, 2025

Temperature-Controlled Assembly and Characterization of a Droplet Interface Bilayer
Published on: April 19, 2021
Physicochemical characteristics of droplet interface bilayers
Y Huang1, G G Fuller1, V Chandran Suja2
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
Abstract:
Droplet interface bilayer (DIB) is a lipid bilayer formed when two lipid monolayer-coated aqueous droplets are brought in contact within an oil phase. DIBs, especially post functionalization, are a facile model system to study the biophysics of the cell membrane. Continued advances in enhancing and functionalizing DIBs to be a faithful cell membrane mimetic requires a deep understanding of the physicochemical characteristics of droplet interface bilayers. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current scientific understanding of DIB characteristics starting with the key experimental frameworks for DIB generation, visualization and functionalization. Subsequently we report experimentally measured physical, electrical and transport characteristics of DIBs across physiologically relevant lipids. Advances in simulations and mathematical modelling of DIBs are also discussed, with an emphasis on revealing principles governing the key physicochemical characteristics. Finally, we conclude the review with important outstanding questions in the field.
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