# US 8,784,929 B2 · Bilayers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,929 B2 - Document ID: US8784929B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/652,481 - Filed: 2012-10-16 - Published: 2013-05-23 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2007-08-21 - Assignees: Isis Innovation Limited - Applicants: Isis Innovation Limited - Inventors: Mark Ian Wallace; Andrew John Heron; Matthew Alexander Holden - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784929B2 ## CPC - G01N 33/68: involving proteins, peptides or amino acids {(involving lipoproteins G01N33/92)} - G01N 33/5432: {Liposomes or microcapsules} - G01N 33/6872: {Intracellular protein regulatory factors and their receptors, e.g. including ion channels} - Y10T 156/10: Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 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 molecules, 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the amphipathic molecules are lipid molecules. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the lipid molecules are selected from the group consisting of fatty acyls, glycerolipids, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, sterol lipids, prenol lipids, saccharolipids, polyketides, phospholipids, glycolipids and cholesterol. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the lipid molecule are selected from the group consisting of monoolein; 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glyceron-3-phosphocholine (DOPC); 1,2-diphytanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidycholine (DPhPC); palmitoyl oleoyl phosphatidylcholine (POPC); 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (POPE); 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-phosphatidyethanolamine; and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylglycerol (POP E/POPG) mixture; and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the hydrated support comprises a solid or a semi-solid substrate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the hydrated support is hydrophilic. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the hydrated support is selected from the group consisting of hydrogels, agarose, polyacrylamide, [cross-linked] polyethylene glycol, nitro-cellulose, polycarbonate, anodisc material, polyethersulphone, cellulose acetate, nylon, Naphion materials, mesoporous silica, water and glass. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the hydrated support is a protein or analyte separation gel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the hydrophilic body comprises a droplet of aqueous solution. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein the droplet is from 5 nm to 10 cm in diameter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the hydrophilic body comprises a hydrated solid or semi-solid support/substrate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the hydrophobic medium is an oil. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein the oil is a hydrocarbon. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein the oil is selected from the group consisting of alkanes, alkenes, fluorinated oils, silicone based oils and carbon tetrachloride. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the bilayer has a diameter from about 1 μ to greater than about 1 cm. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein a membrane-associated protein is present (a) 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; or (b) in the bilayer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the membrane-associated protein is selected from the group consisting of a selective or non-selective membrane transport protein, an ion channel, a pore forming protein and a membrane-resident receptor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the one or more protein is inserted into the bilayer after the bilayer has formed. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the bilayer can be disassembled by removing contact between the hydrated support and the hydrophilic body. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 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.