High throughput single-ion-channel array microsystem with CMOS instrumentation

Ion channels play critical roles in transporting chemical species into and out of cells. Ion channels are also targets for drug discovery and new receptor-based analytical technologies. To better understand ion channel structure and function, a high throughput membrane protein characterization microsystem is being developed. This microsystem integrates a 1024-element array of planar bilayer lipid membrane (pBLM) chambers with microfluidics and embedded CMOS electrochemical instrumentation circuits. This paper introduces the CMOS instrumentation circuits that support readout of 1024 pBLM elements in parallel and provide current pixel amplifiers within each cell for local amplification of the weak ion channel response currents.