Systems and methods for assembling a lipid bilayer on a substantially planar solid surface

Abstract

Techniques for assembling a lipid bilayer on a substantially planar solid surface are described herein. In one example, a lipid material such as a lipid suspension is deposited on a substantially planar solid surface, a bubble filled with fast diffusing gas molecules is formed on the solid surface, and the gas molecules are allowed to diffuse out of the bubble to form a lipid bilayer on the solid surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of assembling a lipid bilayer on a substantially planar solid surface including:
 depositing a lipid material adjacent the solid surface;   forming a bubble filled with fast diffusing gas molecules on the solid surface;   allowing the gas molecules to diffuse out of the bubble to form a lipid bilayer on the solid surface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solid surface comprises a lipid bilayer compatible surface. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solid surface comprises an electrode surface. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solid surface is formed from materials selected from the group consisting of silver-silver chloride, silver-gold alloy, silver-platinum alloy, doped silicon, and other semiconductor materials. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solid surface includes a layer of adsorbed water molecules and the lipid bilayer is formed over the adsorbed water molecules. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein forming the bubble includes initiating formate decomposition to generate gaseous molecules. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein initiating formate decomposition is achieved by applying a bubble initiating electrical stimulus at the electrode surface. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the initiating electrical stimulus is a bubble initiating voltage level having a range of 1.4 V to 3.0 V and a duration of 100 ms to 1 s. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further including detecting the formation of the bubble by detecting an electrical parameter of the bubble. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the electrical parameter comprises a resistance of the bubble. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further including monitoring the integrity of the lipid bilayer by detecting an electrical parameter of the lipid bilayer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the electrical parameter comprises a capacitance of the lipid bilayer measured under an alternating current (AC). 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the electrical parameter comprises an impedance of the lipid bilayer measured under an alternating current 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further including applying an erasing electrical stimulus level to erase a lipid bilayer detected to have inadequate structural integrity. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein one or more steps are automated. 
     
     
         16 . A system for assembling a lipid bilayer on a planar solid surface including:
 a dispenser configured to deposit a lipid material adjacent the planar hydrophilic solid surface;   a variable voltage source configured to apply a stimulus to the lipid suspension to cause a bubble filled with fast diffusing gas molecules to form on the solid surface;   a sensing circuit configured to detect that the gas molecules has diffused out of the bubble to form a lipid bilayer on the solid surface.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the solid surface comprises a lipid bilayer compatible surface. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the solid surface comprises an electrode surface. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the solid surface is formed from materials selected from the group consisting of silver-silver chloride, silver-gold alloy, silver-platinum alloy, doped silicon, and other semiconductor materials. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the solid surface includes a layer of adsorbed water molecules and the lipid bilayer is formed over the adsorbed water molecules. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the stimulus actuator is further configured to apply an bubble initiating stimulus that is designed to initiate formate decomposition to generate gaseous molecules. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein bubble initiating stimulus comprises an electrical stimulus. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the initiating electrical stimulus comprises a bubble initiating voltage level having a range of 1.4 V to 3.0 V and a duration of 100 ms to 1 s. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the sensing circuit is further configured to detect the formation of the bubble by detecting an electrical parameter of the bubble. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the electrical parameter comprises a resistance of the bubble. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 22 , the sensing circuit is further configured to monitor the integrity of the lipid bilayer. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the sensing circuit is further configured to monitor the integrity of the lipid bilayer by detecting an electrical parameter of the lipid bilayer. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the electrical parameter comprises a capacitance of the lipid bilayer measured under an alternating current (AC). 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the electrical parameter comprises an impedance of the lipid bilayer measured under an alternating current (AC). 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 27 , the variable voltage source is further configured to apply an erasing electrical stimulus level to erase a lipid bilayer detected to have inadequate structural integrity. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the system is automated. 
     
     
         32 . A system for assembling a lipid bilayer on a planar solid surface including:
 means for depositing a lipid material adjacent the planar hydrophilic solid surface;   means for applying a stimulus to the lipid suspension to cause a bubble filled with fast diffusing gas molecules to form on the solid surface;   means for detecting that the gas molecules has diffused out of the bubble to form a lipid bilayer on the solid surface.   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the solid surface comprises a lipid bilayer compatible surface. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the solid surface comprises an electrode surface. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the solid surface is formed from materials selected from the group consisting of silver-silver chloride, silver-gold alloy, silver-platinum alloy, doped silicon, and other semiconductor materials. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the solid surface includes a layer of adsorbed water molecules and the lipid bilayer is formed over the adsorbed water molecules. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 32 , further including means for delivering a bubble initiating stimulus that for initiating formate decomposition to generate gaseous molecules. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein bubble initiating stimulus comprises an electrical stimulus. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the initiating electrical stimulus comprises a bubble initiating voltage level having a range of 1.4 V to 3.0 V and a duration of 100 ms to 1 s. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 32 , further including means for detecting the formation of the bubble by detecting an electrical parameter of the bubble. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the electrical parameter comprises a resistance of the bubble. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 32 , further including means for monitoring the integrity of the lipid bilayer. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 32 , further including means for monitoring the integrity of the lipid bilayer by detecting an electrical parameter of the lipid bilayer. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the electrical parameter comprises a capacitance of the lipid bilayer measured under an alternating current (AC). 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the electrical parameter comprises an impedance of the lipid bilayer measured under an alternating current (AC). 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 43 , further including means for applying an erasing electrical stimulus level to erase a lipid bilayer detected to have inadequate structural integrity. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the system is automated.