Patent ID: 8038885

Claim:
A method of encapsulating a bilayer or monolayer membrane, comprising: (a) forming a bilayer or monolayer membrane supported at its boundary by a solid substrate by (i) providing a device for preparing a bilayer or monolayer membrane, the device comprising: a first channel defined in a first substrate, wherein the first channel contains a first solution; a second channel defined in the first substrate or in a second substrate, wherein the second channel contains a second solution; wherein the first channel connects to and is in communication with the second channel at an interfacial region defining the connection between the first solution and the second solution; and wherein the first channel and/or the second channel comprises a hydrophobic substance at the interfacial region; and (ii) introducing a lipid or other amphiphile at the interfacial region, wherein the lipid or other amphiphile forms the bilayer or monolayer membrane at the interfacial region by contacting the first solution, the second solution, and the hydrophobic substance; and (b)polymerizing a hydrogel prepolymer in the presence of the bilayer or monolayer membrane, thereby forming a hydrogel encapsulated bilayer or monolayer membrane supported at its boundary by the solid substrate.