Formation of bilayers of amphipathic molecules
View Patent ↗A method of forming bilayers of amphipathic molecules uses droplets of aqueous solution in a hydrophobic medium such as oil. A layer of amphipathic molecules such as a lipid is formed around the surfaces of the droplets. This may be achieved by providing the lipid in the oil and leaving the droplets for a time sufficient to form the layer. The droplets are brought into contact with one another so that a bilayer of the amphipathic molecules is formed as an interface between the contacting droplets. The bilayers may be used for a wide range of studies. The technique has numerous advantages including providing a long lifetime for the bilayers, allowing study of small volumes and allowing the construction of chains and networks of droplets with bilayers in between to study complex systems.
1. A droplet of aqueous solution having a volume less than 1000 nL in a hydrophobic medium, the droplet comprising a layer of amphipathic molecules around the surface of the aqueous solution, and containing a membrane protein capable of insertion into a bilayer of the amphipathic molecules.
2. A droplet according to claim 1 , wherein the membrane protein is a channel or a pore.
3. A droplet according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic medium is an oil.
4. A droplet according to claim 3 , wherein the oil is a hydrocarbon.
5. A droplet according to claim 1 , wherein the amphipathic molecules are lipid molecules.
6. A droplet according to claim 1 , wherein the droplet has a volume greater than 200 nL.
7. A droplet according to claim 1 , wherein the droplet has a volume less than 800 nL.
8. A pair of droplets,
a first droplet of the pair of droplets being a droplet according to claim 1 ,
a second droplet of the pair of droplets being a droplet of aqueous solution having a volume less than 1000 nL in the hydrophobic medium, the second droplet comprising a layer of the amphipathic molecules around the surface of the aqueous solution, and
the first droplet and the second droplet being in contact with one another so that a bilayer of the amphipathic molecules is formed as an interface therebetween.
9. A pair of droplets according to claim 8 , wherein the bilayer of the amphipathic molecules has a diameter in the range from 30 μm to 1000 μm.
10. A pair of droplets according to claim 8 , wherein the membrane protein is a channel or a pore.
11. A pair of droplets according to claim 8 , wherein the hydrophobic medium is an oil.
12. A pair of droplets according to claim 11 , wherein the oil is a hydrocarbon.
13. A pair of droplets according to claim 8 , wherein the amphipathic molecules are lipid molecules.
14. A pair of droplets according to claim 8 , wherein the droplets each have a volume greater than 200 nL.
15. A pair of droplets according to claim 8 , wherein the droplets each have a volume less than 800 nL.
16. A pair of droplets according to claim 8 , wherein the second droplet contains a membrane protein capable of insertion into a bilayer of the amphipathic molecules.
17. A system comprising a bilayer of amphiphilic molecules provided at the interface between a droplet of aqueous solution having a volume less than 1000 nL in a hydrophobic medium and a further aqueous solution, wherein the bilayer contains a membrane protein.
18. A system according to claim 17 , wherein the droplet comprises a layer of amphipathic molecules around the surface of the aqueous solution.
19. A droplet according to claim 17 , wherein the membrane protein is a channel or a pore.
20. A droplet according to claim 17 , wherein the hydrophobic medium is an oil.
21. A droplet according to claim 20 , wherein the oil is a hydrocarbon.
22. A droplet according to claim 17 , wherein the amphipathic molecules are lipid molecules.
23. A droplet according to claim 17 , wherein the droplet has a volume greater than 200 nL.
24. A droplet according to claim 17 , wherein the droplet has a volume less than 800 nL.