Using crosslinkable diacetylene phospholipids to construct two-dimensional packed beds in supported lipid bilayer separation platforms

Membrane species mobility under in-lipid-membrane forced convection

Processing and managing cell membrane proteins for characterization while maintaining their intact structure is challenging. Hydrodynamic flow has been used to transport membrane species in supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) where the hydrophobic cores of the membrane species can be protected during processing. However, the forced convection mechanism of species embedded in lipid bilayers is still unclear. Developing a controlled SLB platform with a practical model to predict the membrane species mobility in the platform under in-lipid-membrane forced convection is imperative to ensure the practical applicability of SLBs in processing and managing membrane species with various geometrical properties. The mobility of membrane species is affected by the driving force from the aqueous environment in addition to the frictions from the lipid bilayer, in which both lipid leaflets may exhibit different speeds relative to that of the moving species. In this study, we developed a model, based on the applied driving force and the possible frictional resistances that the membrane species encounter, to predict how the mobility under in-lipid-membrane forced convection is influenced by the sizes of the species' hydrophilic portion in the aqueous environment and the hydrophobic portion embedded in the membrane. In addition, we used a microfluidic device for controlling the flow to arrange the lipid membrane and the tested membrane species in the desirable locations in order to obtain a SLB platform which can provide clear mobility responses of the species without disturbance from the species dispersion effect. The model predictions were consistent with the experimental observations, with the sliding friction coefficient between the upper leaflet and the hydrophilic portion of the species as the only regressed parameter. The result suggests that not only the lateral drag frictions from the lipid layers but also the sliding frictions between the species and the lipid layer planes could significantly influence the species mobility. The consistency between the experimental results and the model predictions suggests that our model based on lateral drag and sliding frictions between the species and the lipid leaflets can be used to describe the mobility of half-transmembrane species. We also demonstrated the possibility of how the scope of this model can be broadened to describe the mobility of transmembrane proteins extending through both lipid leaflets.

Supported Lipid Bilayers for the Generation of Dynamic Cell-Material Interfaces

Supported lipid bilayers (SLB) offer unique possibilities for studying cellular membranes and have been used as a synthetic architecture to interact with cells. Here, the state-of-the-art in SLB-based technology is presented. The fabrication, analysis, characteristics and modification of SLBs are described in great detail. Numerous strategies to form SLBs on different substrates, and the means to patteren them, are described. The use of SLBs as model membranes for the study of membrane organization and membrane processes in vitro is highlighted. In addition, the use of SLBs as a substratum for cell analysis is presented, with discrimination between cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) mimicry. The study is concluded with a discussion of the potential for in vivo applications of SLBs.

Phase segregation of polymerizable lipids to construct filters for separating lipid-membrane-embedded species

Supported lipid bilayer (SLB) platforms have been developed to transport and separate membrane-embedded species in the species' native bilayer environment. In this study, we used the phase segregation phenomenon of lipid mixtures containing a polymerizable diacetylene phospholipid, 1,2-bis(10,12-tricosadiynoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DiynePC), and a nonpolymerizable phospholipid, 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC), to create filter barrier structures in SLBs. Upon exposing the phase segregated samples to UV light, the DiynePC-rich domains could become crosslinked and remain fixed on the surface of the support, while the DOPC-rich regions, where no crosslinking could happen, could be removed later by detergent washing, and thus became the void regions in the filter. During the filter fabrication process, we used the laminar flow configuration in a microfluidic channel to control the spatial locations of the feed region and filter region in the SLB. The flow in a microfluidic channel was also used to apply a strong hydrodynamic shear stress to the SLB to transport the membrane-embedded species from the feed region to the filter region. We varied the DiynePC/DOPC molar ratio from 60/40 to 80/20 to adjust the cutoff size of the filter barriers and used two model membrane-embedded species of different sizes to examine the filtering capability. One of the model species, Texas Red 1,2-dihexa-decanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine triethylammonium salt (Texas Red DHPE), had a single-lipid size, and the other species, cholera toxin subunit B-GM1 complex, had a multilipid size. When the DiynePC/DOPC molar ratio was 60/40, both species had high penetration ratios in the filter region. However, when the ratio was increased to 70/30, only the Texas Red DHPE, which was the smaller of the two model species, could penetrate the filter to a considerable extent. When the ratio was increased to 80/20, neither of the model species could penetrate the filter region. The results showed the possibility of using phase segregation of a mixture containing a polymerizable lipid and a nonpolymerizable lipid to fabricate filter barrier structures with tunable cutoff sizes in SLBs.

On-chip electrophoresis in supported lipid bilayer membranes achieved using low potentials

A micro supported lipid bilayer (SLB) electrophoresis method was developed, which functions at low potentials and appreciable operating times. To this end, (hydroxymethyl)-ferrocene (FcCH2OH) was employed to provide an electrochemical reaction at the anode and cathode at low applied potential to avoid electrolysis of water. The addition of FcCH2OH did not alter the SLB characteristics or affect biomolecule function, and pH and temperature variations and bubble formation were eliminated. Applying potentials of 0.25-1.2 V during flow gave homogeneous electrical fields and a fast, reversible, and strong build-up of a charged dye-modified lipid in the direction of the oppositely charged electrode. Moreover, streptavidin mobility could be modulated. This method paves the way for further development of analytical devices.