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US 8,038,885 B2Granted
Formation and encapsulation of molecular bilayer and monolayer membranes
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsJacob J. Schmidt, Noah Malmstadt, Tae-joon Jeon, Jason Poulos
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are compositions, methods, and devices related to bilayer and monolayer membranes, their encapsulation in a hydrogel, and their formation. Methods of using the disclose compositions and devices are also disclosed.
Claims26
A method of encapsulating a bilayer or monolayer membrane, comprising:
- (a) forming a bilayer or monolayer membrane supported at its boundary by a solid substrate by
- (i) providing a device for preparing a bilayer or monolayer membrane, the device comprising:
- a first channel defined in a first substrate, wherein the first channel contains a first solution;
- a second channel defined in the first substrate or in a second substrate, wherein the second channel contains a second solution;
- wherein the first channel connects to and is in communication with the second channel at an interfacial region defining the connection between the first solution and the second solution;
- and
- wherein the first channel and/or the second channel comprises a hydrophobic substance at the interfacial region;
- and
- (ii) introducing a lipid or other amphiphile at the interfacial region,
- wherein the lipid or other amphiphile forms the bilayer or monolayer membrane at the interfacial region by contacting the first solution, the second solution, and the hydrophobic substance;
- and
- (b)polymerizing a hydrogel prepolymer in the presence of the bilayer or monolayer membrane,
- thereby forming a hydrogel encapsulated bilayer or monolayer membrane supported at its boundary by the solid substrate.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.