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Full Paper
Visualizing the Growth and Dynamics of Liquid-Ordered Domains During Lipid Bilayer Folding in a Microfluidic Chip
Article first published online: 8 AUG 2012
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201200831
Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
Additional Information
How to Cite
Kendall, E. L., Shao, C. and DeVoe, D. L. (2012), Visualizing the Growth and Dynamics of Liquid-Ordered Domains During Lipid Bilayer Folding in a Microfluidic Chip. Small, 8: 3613–3619. doi: 10.1002/smll.201200831
Publication History
- Issue published online: 3 DEC 2012
- Article first published online: 8 AUG 2012
- Manuscript Revised: 29 MAY 2012
- Manuscript Received: 18 APR 2012
Keywords:
- fluorescence microscopy;
- lipid bilayers;
- lipid domains;
- membranes;
- microfluidics
Abstract
A microfluidic platform enabling optical monitoring of bilayer lipid membrane formation by a new monolayer folding process is described. The thermoplastic chips integrate dried lipid films that are rehydrated by microfluidic perfusion, which enables delivery of lipid-laden air bubbles across a membrane-supporting aperture. As in traditional Montal–Mueller bilayer formation, lipid monolayers are delivered independently to each side of the aperture, thereby allowing asymmetric lipid composition in the resulting bilayer to be achieved. Confocal microscopy is used to image the monolayer folding process, and reveals the growth and dynamics of asymmetric liquid-ordered domains during bilayer stabilization.