Method and device to probe a membrane by applying an in-plane electric field

A method for probing changes of a membrane by applying an electric field, comprising:

• providing a device including a base comprised of insulating material, electrically conductive walls spaced apart from each other and disposed on said base, wherein said conductive walls are approximately perpendicular to said base and parallel to each other, wherein said conductive walls and said base are configured to receive a membrane selected from the group consisting of a monolayer or bilayer comprised of amphipathic lipids, a cell membrane comprised of lipids, and combinations thereof, said membrane having opposing top and bottom membrane surfaces and an interior reference plane that is bounded by said membrane surfaces and extends along said membrane, wherein said conductive walls each has a conductive side that extends to a height above said base that is at least as large as a thickness of said membrane, and a through hole formed in said base between said conductive walls;
• providing an enclosure below said base including a well below said through hole;
• providing a passageway extending from a periphery of said enclosure to said well;
• positioning said membrane between said conductive walls such that said bottom surface of said membrane contacts said base and extends over said through hole, wherein said membrane has side surfaces which are in contact with said conductive walls;
• adding a first material on top of said membrane;
• adding a second material through said passageway into said well;
• and applying an alternating electric field between said conductive walls along the plane of said membrane that causes changes in said membrane including reorienting molecules of said membrane;
• and monitoring said changes in said membrane caused by application of said electric field.