Simple and stable lipid bilayer formation: A droplets contacting method using parylene micro-pores for multiple ion channel recordings

This paper describes multiple ion-channel recordings through membrane proteins reconstituted in bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs) array. The BLMs array can be prepared by "Droplets Contacting Method" which forms BLMs at the interface of two lipid monolayers. Since this method does not require skilled techniques, it is highly reproducible and can be applied to automated system. We used a double well chip (DWC) for the droplets contacting method. We attempted to confine the BLMs forming areas with parylene micro-pore (parylene double well chip, PDWC) to augment the mechanical stability of BLMs. Subsequently, we arrayed the PDWC with electrodes for multiple recordings of channel proteins. We successfully demonstrated 14 channels simultaneous ion channel recordings through α-hemolysin.