Assay chip, and uses of said assay chip to determine molecular structures and functions
First Claim
1. An assay chip for investigation of a functionality of non-lipid molecules and their interactions with molecules, comprising:
- a nanopore substrate having a plurality of nanopores and alignment marks, said nanopore substrate having a thickness and said nonapores having a diameter in a range of 50 to 2000 nm resulting in an aspect ratio in a range of 0.5 to 2;
b) a substantially planar support layer deposited on said nanopore substrate and having a plurality of nanopores corresponding to and aligned with said nanopores of said nanopore substrate;
c) a biologically effective layer configured to host at least one of a non-lipid molecule and functional molecule, deposited on said support layer and covering the plurality of nanopores, resulting in accessible nanopores from both sides of the biologically effective layer for measurements, wherein the biologically effective layer is a biomembrane isolated from one of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, wherein the biologically effective layer is a lipid bilayer formed by preparation and later fusion of lipid vesicles or is a functional layer of supramolecular assembly, and said biologically effective layer retaining biological functionality.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An assay chip for investigation the functionality of membrane proteins and their interactions with molecules includes a nanopore array having a plurality of nanopores in a suitable support layer deposited on the nanopore substrate and being a substantially planar support layer having a plurality of nanopores corresponding to the nanopores of the nanopore substrate. The chip includes further a biologically effective layer capable to host at least a non-lipid molecule or functional molecule, deposited on the support layer and covering the plurality of nanopores, resulting in accesible nanopores from both sides of the biologically effective layer for measurement or imaging. The structured support allows generating a biologically effective membrane, such as a lipid bilayer membrane, having high and reliable stability in a manner that its fluidity is sustained in order to keep integrated membrane proteins in the lipid bilayer in its full biological functionality.
19 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An assay chip for investigation of a functionality of non-lipid molecules and their interactions with molecules, comprising:
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a nanopore substrate having a plurality of nanopores and alignment marks, said nanopore substrate having a thickness and said nonapores having a diameter in a range of 50 to 2000 nm resulting in an aspect ratio in a range of 0.5 to 2; b) a substantially planar support layer deposited on said nanopore substrate and having a plurality of nanopores corresponding to and aligned with said nanopores of said nanopore substrate; c) a biologically effective layer configured to host at least one of a non-lipid molecule and functional molecule, deposited on said support layer and covering the plurality of nanopores, resulting in accessible nanopores from both sides of the biologically effective layer for measurements, wherein the biologically effective layer is a biomembrane isolated from one of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, wherein the biologically effective layer is a lipid bilayer formed by preparation and later fusion of lipid vesicles or is a functional layer of supramolecular assembly, and said biologically effective layer retaining biological functionality. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification