Biosensors including lipid bilayer doped with ion channels anchored to a recording electrode by bridging molecules

A biosensor for qualitative and quantitative analysis of an anylate comprising a container defining a containment chamber having at least one wall comprised of apolar material exposed to the containment chamber;

• bulk aqueous electrolyte medium contained in said containment chamber;
• a reference electrode located in an upper part of the containment chamber immersed in said electrolyte medium;
• a recording electrode located at the bottom of said containment chamber;
• a liquid crystalline membrane comprised of a lipid bilayer doped with ion channels wherein said liquid crystalline membrane is immersed in the electrolyte medium between the reference electrode and the recording electrode;
• and bridging anchoring molecules attached to the recording electrode on one side and to the lipid bilayer on the other side to anchor the lipid bilayer to the recording electrode in a spaced relationship so that the lipid bilayer is in continuous contact with the bulk aqueous electrolyte medium on both the upper and lower surfaces of the lipid bilayer with the boundaries of the lipid bilayer being sealed by apolar contact with the apolar material of the at least one wall.