Bilayers

Abstract

A method for producing a bilayer of amphipathic molecules comprising providing a hydrated support and providing a hydrophilic body, and bringing the hydrated support and hydrophilic body into contact to form a bilayer of amphipathic molecules. A bilayer produced by the method of the invention, and uses of the bilayer.

1 . A method for producing a bilayer of amphipathic molecules comprising the steps of:
 (i) providing a hydrated support in a hydrophobic medium, wherein a first monolayer of amphipathic molecules is present on the surface of the hydrated support;   (ii) providing a hydrophilic body in a hydrophobic medium, wherein a second monolayer of amphipathic molecules is present on the surface of the hydrophilic body; and   (iii) bringing the first monolayer and the second monolayer into contact to form a bilayer of amphipathic,   
       wherein either: (a) the hydrophobic medium in which the hydrated support is provided contains amphipathic molecules and the hydrophobic medium in which the hydrophilic body is provided contains amphipathic molecules; or (b) the hydrated support contains amphipathic molecules and the hydrophilic body contains amphipathic molecules. 
     
     
         2 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the amphipathic molecules are lipid molecules. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the lipid molecules are selected from the group comprising fatty acyls, glycerolipids, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, sterol lipids, prenol lipids, saccharolipids, polyketides, phospholipids, glycolipids and cholesterol. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the lipid molecules are selected from the group comprising monoolein; 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC); 1,2-diphytanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DPhPC); palmitoyl oleoyl phosphatidylcholine (POPC); 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (POPE); 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine; and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylglycerol (POPE/POPG) mixtures; or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hydrated support comprises a solid or a semi-solid substrate. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hydrated support is hydrophilic. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hydrated support is selected from the group comprising hydrogels, agarose, polyacrylamide, [cross-linked] polyethylene glycol, nitro-cellulose, polycarbonate, anodisc material, polyethersulphone, cellulose acetate, nylon, Naphion materials, mesoporous silica, water and glass. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hydrated support is a protein or analyte separation gel. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hydrophilic body comprises a droplet of aqueous solution. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the droplet is from 5 nm to 10 cm in diameter. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hydrophilic body comprises a hydrated solid or semi-solid support/substrate. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hydrophobic medium is an oil. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the oil is a hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         23 . The method or bilayer of  claim 21  wherein the oil is selected from the group comprising alkanes, alkenes, fluorinated oils, silicone based oils and carbon tetrachloride. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the bilayer has a diameter from about 1 μm to greater than about 1 cm. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a membrane-associated protein is present in at least one of the hydrated support, the hydrophilic body and the hydrophobic medium, said membrane-associated protein being capable of insertion into the bilayer. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the membrane-associated protein is selected from the group comprising a selective or non-selective membrane transport protein, an ion channel, a pore forming protein and a membrane-resident receptor. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the one or more protein is inserted into the bilayer after the bilayer has formed. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the area of the bilayer can be varied by varying the relative positions of the hydrophilic body and the hydrated substrate. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the bilayer can be disassembled by removing contact between the hydrated support and the hydrophilic body. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the bilayer can be reformed by restoring contact between a lipid monolayer on the hydrated support and a lipid monolayer on the hydrophilic body. 
     
     
         33 - 56 . (canceled)