Method of preparing artificial lipid membranes over microapertures of substrate and substrate for holding artificial lipid membranes

Abstract

There is provided a method of preparing organic-solvent-free artificial lipid membranes formed over microapertures of a substrate and a substrate for holding the artificial lipid membranes. The method of preparing artificial lipid membranes over microapertures of a substrate includes forming a lipid pattern 5 on the perimeter of microapertures 4 formed in a substrate 1 , swelling the lipid pattern 5 by an electroformation method, fusing the swelled lipid pattern, and further swelling the fused lipid pattern for each microaperture to prepare dome-shaped organic-solvent-free lipid membranes 7.

1 . A method of preparing artificial lipid membranes over microapertures of a substrate, comprising the steps of:
 (a) forming a lipid pattern on the perimeter of the microapertures formed in the substrate; and   (b) swelling the lipid pattern by an electroformation method, fusing the swelled lipid pattern, and further swelling the fused lipid pattern for each microaperture to prepare dome-shaped organic-solvent-free lipid membranes.   
     
     
         2 . The method of preparing artificial lipid membranes over microapertures of a substrate according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is made of a Parylene film having an electrode film deposited thereon. 
     
     
         3 . The method of preparing artificial lipid membranes over microapertures of a substrate according to  claim 2 , wherein the electrode film is a Cr/Au electrode film. 
     
     
         4 . The method of preparing artificial lipid membranes over microapertures of a substrate according to  claim 2 , wherein the lipid pattern on the perimeter of the microapertures is formed by a Parylene lift-Off technique. 
     
     
         5 . The method of preparing artificial lipid membranes over microapertures of a substrate according to  claim 4 , wherein the lipid pattern on the perimeter of the microapertures is formed by depositing a first Parylene film on a bottom substrate, depositing the Cr/Au electrode film thereon, etching the first Parylene film and the Cr/Au electrode by lithography, then forming an intermediate layer on the Cr/Au electrode film, depositing a second Parylene film on the intermediate layer, etching the second Parylene film and the intermediate layer by the lithography, applying a lipid solution thereon, peeling off the second Parylene film and the bottom substrate, and storing in a vacuum chamber for a few hours. 
     
     
         6 . The method of preparing artificial lipid membranes over microapertures of a substrate according to  claim 5 , wherein the intermediate layer is ODT. 
     
     
         7 . The method of preparing artificial lipid membranes over microapertures of a substrate according to  claim 1 , wherein the dome-shaped organic-solvent-free lipid membranes are prepared by disposing the substrate with the lipid pattern for the on the perimeter of the microapertures in a chamber containing a buffer introduced therein, and using the electroformation method. 
     
     
         8 . A substrate for holding artificial lipid membranes comprising dome-Shaped organic-solvent-free artificial lipid membranes formed over microapertures of a substrate having a film with an electrode film deposited thereon, that is peeled off easily. 
     
     
         9 . The substrate for holding artificial lipid membranes according to  claim 8 , wherein the film that is peeled off easily is made of a Parylene film.