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

Microfabrication is used to realize a polyimide aperture for highly st able bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs). The microfabrication process used in this work is compatible with standard processes used in microelect ronics. The physical features of the aperture, such as diameter, thick ness and tapering of the edges are precisely controlled during the mic rofabrication process which results in high yield and reproducibility of the polyimide apertures. A study of BLM stability using precise mea surements of specific capacitance shows that the BLM is stable up to 5 0 h. Alamethicin channels were successfully incorporated into these me mbranes further proving their bilayer nature. Vesicles containing reco nstituted nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) were fused to the BLMs. The successful incorporation of functioning ion channel activit y into highly stable BLMs promises a future class of miniature sensors that are very sensitive with fast response times.