This work investigates the fabrication of hydrogel based lipid bilayers arrays using micro fabrication technologies that enable high precision in controlling the cell-scale droplets. Arrays of hydrogels that support curved aqueous lenses are deposited on two parallel substrates using lithography techniques on top of a network of Ag/AgCl electrodes. The first step in the fabrication process is to deposit silver electrodes using silver paint through a mask, a layer of silver chloride is then formed around the silver channels using another mask with the desired geometry. The hydrogel arrays are then achieved by exposing a thin film of photocrosslinkable hydrogel to UV light through a mask. Hydrogel arrays are fabricated using this technique, which is represents a relatively accurate and inexpensive method. The hydrogel structures can host a thin aqueous curved lenses containing phospholipids . Bilayer arrays can be formed by using a technique similar to the regulated attachment method, where mechanical force is used to bring adjacent aqueous lenses in contact.

Date Published: 8 April 2013
PDF: 6 pages
Proc. SPIE 8686, Bioinspiration, Biomimetics, and Bioreplication 2013, 86860C (8 April 2013); doi: 10.1117/12.2010695

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8686:
Bioinspiration, Biomimetics, and Bioreplication 2013
Raúl J. Martín-Palma, Editor(s)