Planar phospholipid membranes in microfluidics enabling kinetics studies of ceramide channels

Abstract

Here we present recent developments on the integration of planar phospholipids membrane (PPM) into microfluidic platform. With robust PPM formed in our polycarbonated based microchip, we can further incorporate one of the most interesting naturally occurring lipids channel ceramide (N-acylated spingosine), and then integrate perfusion pathway to change the reagent condition of aqueous solution in one of the chambers. It demonstrates the ability to study the dynamic responses of ion channel to different perfusion conditions and to capture the kinetic activities which would provide mechanistic insight for ion channels study.