Biosensors based on capacitance measurements and 2D-microelectrophoresis on lipid membranes

Abstract

A great numberofbiological receptor moleculesare located within lipid bilayers. How can one use them for biosensor applications? Biological receptors should be reconstituted into their natural environment- e.g. the lipid bilayer - to achieve proper function. It is therefore necessary to develop (1) methodsfor the preparation of high resistance lipid/protein membranesonsolid supports and (2) appropriate transducers for the conversion of the chemicalto an electrical signal. In our case we apply capacitance measurement. Amplification of the sensor signal is a further important requirement for biosensors to achieve sufficient signal/noise ratios of the sensor. We suggestthe lateral 2D-microelectrophoresis. This could be a useful tool for the separation and local accumulation of different receptors.