Apparatus for supporting an array of layers of amphiphilic molecules and method of forming an array of layers of amphiphilic molecules

An apparatus for supporting an array of layers of amphiphilic molecules, the apparatus comprising:

• a body;
• and
• formed in a surface of the body, an array of wells, at least some of which are sensor wells capable of supporting a layer of amphiphilic molecules across the sensor wells after application to the sensor wells of a pre-treatment that is a fluid capable of interacting with the amphiphilic molecules, the sensor wells each containing an electrode for connection to an electrical circuit,
• wherein the wells have a number density of 3.2×10−5 wells/micron2 or more, optionally 6.4×10−5 wells/micron2 or more, further optionally 1.5×10−4 wells/micron2 or more, and still further optionally 2.5×10−4 wells/micron2 or more.

A method of preparing an apparatus for forming an array of layers of amphiphilic molecules, the method comprising:

• providing an apparatus comprising a body, and, formed in a surface of the body, an array of wells, at least some of which are sensor wells capable of supporting a layer of amphiphilic molecules across the sensor wells after application to the sensor wells of a pre-treatment that is a fluid capable of interacting with the amphiphilic molecules, the sensor wells each containing an electrode for connection to an electrical circuit, and
• delivering across the surface of the body a pre-treatment, that is a fluid capable of interacting with the amphiphilic molecules, in a solvent to apply the pre-treatment to the wells;
• and
• drying the surface of the body to remove the solvent under a pressure below atmospheric pressure.

A method of preparing an apparatus for forming an array of layers of amphiphilic molecules, the method comprising:

• providing an apparatus comprising a body, and, formed in a surface of the body, an array of wells, at least some of which are sensor wells capable of supporting a layer of amphiphilic molecules across the sensor wells after application to the sensor wells of a pre-treatment that is a fluid capable of interacting with the amphiphilic molecules, the sensor wells each containing an electrode for connection to an electrical circuit, and
• delivering to the body a pre-treatment that is a fluid capable of interacting with the amphiphilic molecules,
• the method being performed so that each of the following conditions is met:
• the visible coverage of the surface by the pre-treatment is less than 15% of the area in which the array of sensor wells is located;
• the proportion of sensor wells that are filled is less than 5%;
• and
• the values of rectangularity and the perimeter of all the annuli of pre-treatment around the respective sensor wells falls within a 40% of the average values.

An apparatus for forming an array of layers of amphiphilic molecules, the apparatus comprising:

• a body;
• and
• formed in a surface of the body, an array of wells, at least some of which are sensor wells capable of supporting a layer of amphiphilic molecules across the sensor wells after application to the sensor wells of a pre-treatment that is a fluid capable of interacting with the amphiphilic molecules, the sensor wells each containing an electrode for connection to an electrical circuit, the array of wells being arranged such that after delivery to the body of a pre-treatment that is a fluid capable of interacting with the amphiphilic molecules, each of the following conditions is met:
• the visible coverage of the surface by the pre-treatment is less than 15% of the area in which the array of sensor wells is located;
• the proportion of sensor wells that are filled is less than 5%;
• and
• the values of rectangularity and the perimeter of all the annuli of pre-treatment around the respective sensor wells falls within a 40% of the average values.