We describe biomimetic membranes we have developed to overcome the limitations of the short lifetimes and need for alkane solvents of Black Lipid Membranes by developing an interpenetrating hydrogel (IPH) composed of polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEM) and agarose to support a lipid bilayer (s-LBM). The IPH has the advantage of being more robust and easily manipulated compared to a PEM, but the IPH retains the advantage of a surface charge from the polyelectrolyte composition in order to facilitate the adsorption of a lipid bilayer. In characterising the membrane system, we used neutron reflectivity to measure structural changes in the s-LBM. This s-LBM biomimetic membrane system was optimised for utilisation as the removable membrane system in a diffusion chamber. Devices assembled with this biomimetic membrane have several biomedical applications, including for sensitive diagnostic applications, or as a �smart� biomimetic microcapsular delivery system tuned for the selective therapeutic delivery and targeting of drugs.

Biomimetic membrane system composed of a lipid bilayer supported by an interpenetrating hydrogel for usage as replaceable membranes in diffusion chambers

245th National Meeting (2013)

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