(111d) Biomimetic Interfaces Based on Membrane Proteins for Bioelectronic Applications

Cell membranes carry out many vital recognition, communication, transport, and catalytic functions at the molecular scale. These functions can be reproduced in the laboratory by using biomimetic interfaces that consist of a bilayer lipid membrane (BLM) with embedded membrane proteins. Ion channels, a class of membrane proteins that control ion transport across membranes, are involved in performing critical physiological functions. Ion-channel malfunction is responsible for many cardiac and neuronal diseases. Hence, ion channels are important drug targets. High-throughput methods are needed to screen compounds for activity against ion channels and thereby identify new lead drug candidates. The present contribution describes the fabrication of functional biomimetic interfaces based on membrane proteins and their characterization using electrochemical techniques. Biomimetic interfaces for ion channels are fabricated by creating tethered bilayer lipid membrane (tBLM) architecture on an electrode surface. A tBLM separates BLM from the electrode by a hydrophilic spacer layer, which serves as an ion reservoir. The electrical properties of the tBLM and ion passage through the channels can be measured using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). These interfaces have outstanding potential for conducting fundamental studies of nanoscale biological processes and for developing new membrane-protein-based technologies relevant to pharmaceutical industries, including high-throughput drug screening systems and novel biosensors.