Biomolecule Transport across Droplet Interface Bilayer Networks

Abstract

An important aspect of biochemical reactions as they occur in vivo is the sequential and spatial control that arises from the compartmentalisation provided by the membranes of cells and organelles within them. Integral membrane proteins control the traffic of ions and biomolecules across these membranes and the lipid composition of the bilayer in turn influences the structure, function and stability of the proteins. Artificial systems such as Droplet Interface Bilayers are being developed that have the potential to replicate this feature, where sub-microlitre aqueous droplets are surrounded by a lipid monolayer and assembled together to form bilayer regions at the connections. Here, we seek to functionalise a simple droplet network by the incorporation of different channels and transporters and by varying the selection of the composite synthetic phospholipids, allowing for the selective transport of substrates between compartments.