Lipid Bilayer Microchambers: An Optical Detection System for Membrane Transport

We present a novel method for the optical detection of membrane transport across an artificial planar lipid bilayer through membrane proteins (e.g., ion pumps and transporters) using a microchamber array. Parylene microchambers are fabricated on a coverglass, using photolithography, and a planar lipid bilayer is pressed on the microchambers to cover. After membrane proteins are reconstituted in the bilayer, fluorescently labeled molecules transported through them are accumulated in microchambers and detected by fluorescent imaging. The microchamber array is shown to be compatible with high-sensitive microscopic imaging techniques, such as a confocal microscopy and a total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM). Using this system, transport of fluorescent dye through peptide nanopore (α-hemolysin) is examined.