Artificial cell membrane platform
The purpose of this research is to develop an artificial cell membrane platform in which to study membrane proteins. We are specifically studying proteins that control and mitigate the movement of ions, such as calcium and potassium, across the cell membrane. These types of proteins are of biological significance because they are one of the primary means in which a cell communicates with its environment, which eventually dictates cellular function. We have developed a model platform that consists of a lipid bilayer constructed on a wafer of silicon that can be used to detect the movement of ions across the membrane.
In between the lipid bilayer and silicon wafer is a polymeric cushion; this feature lifts the lipid bilayer away from the silicon so as to avoid hindering the natural conformation of a membrane protein. We examined the influence of the polymeric cushion on the electrical properties of the model membrane platform. We identified a polymeric concentration that optimized the membrane’s electrical properties by maximizing its resistance to ion movement in the absence of membrane proteins. Furthermore, we demonstrated the formation of electrically robust bilayers that remained stable for nearly three weeks as well as the utility of the platform for future studies of membrane proteins.