Abstract
Substrate supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) are highly attractive as a model of the biological membrane and as a platform for developing devices that utilize membrane functions. We have developed a patterned SLB composed of polymerized and natural (fluid) lipid bilayers. The polymeric bilayer acts as a framework to define the geometry of the fluid bilayers and enhance their stability. The patterned SLBs can be combined with a nanometric space that can reduce the background noise, enabling highly sensitive detection (e.g. single molecule tracking). Patterned SLBs in combination with a nanometric confinement provide promising platforms for biophysical studies as well as a wide range of biomedical applications.
