Formation of array of membranes and apparatus therefor
Inventors
Hyde, Jason Robert • Bahamon, Pedro Miguel Ortiz • Brown, Clive Gavin • Heron, Andrew John • Mackett, Paul Raymond
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-12350637-B2
Publication Date
2025-07-08
Expiration Date
Abstract
An array of membranes comprising amphipathic molecules is formed using an apparatus comprising a support defining an array of compartments. Volumes comprising polar medium are provided within respective compartments and a layer comprising apolar medium is provided extending across the openings with the volumes. Polar medium is flowed across the support to displace apolar medium and form a layer in contact with the volumes, forming membranes comprising amphipathic molecules at the interfaces. In one construction of the apparatus, the support that comprises partitions which comprise inner portions and outer portions. The inner portions define inner recesses without gaps therebetween that are capable of constraining the volumes comprising polar medium contained in neighbouring inner recesses from contacting each other. The outer portions extend outwardly from the inner portions and have gaps allowing the flow of an apolar medium across the substrate.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an apparatus for forming an array of volumes comprising polar medium on a partitioned support. The support comprises a base and partitions extending from the base, where the partitions define compartments and inner recesses, and where outer portions extend outwardly as pillars from inner portions. The outer portions have surfaces with patterning that comprises a plurality of indentations.
The apparatus contains volumes of polar medium in the inner recesses and forms a layer comprising polar medium extending across the support. The polar-medium layer is in contact with the volumes of polar medium at an interface. An apolar medium is present around the pillars, and membranes comprising amphipathic molecules are present at interfaces between the polar-medium layer and the volumes of polar medium.
The patterned surfaces on the pillar outer portions, including the plurality of indentations, cooperate with the apolar medium to provide membrane formation at the polar/apolar interfaces. The partition and recess structure enables an array of spatially defined membrane interfaces corresponding to the contained polar-medium volumes. In related configurations, the interface geometry and retention of neighboring polar-medium volumes are controlled, and the membranes can be formed as nanopore-containing membranes for interacting with substances at the interfaces.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim defines an apparatus architecture with a partitioned support, pillar outer portions patterned by indentations, and an array of amphipathic-molecule membranes at polar-medium interfaces. Dependent claims further add complementary interface geometry, separation of neighboring polar-medium volumes, nanopores, and indentation dimensions.
Partitioned support with pillar outer portions patterned by indentations
A support comprising a base and partitions defining compartments, with inner portions defining inner recesses and outer portions extending outwardly as pillars; the outer portions have surfaces patterned with a plurality of indentations.
Polar-medium array using volumes in inner recesses and a polar-medium layer
Volumes of polar medium contained in the inner recesses and a layer comprising polar medium extending across the support, the layer being in contact with the volumes of polar medium at an interface.
Apolar medium around pillars to establish polar/apolar interfaces
An apolar medium present around the pillars.
Amphipathic-molecule membranes at interfaces between polar-medium layer and polar volumes
Membranes comprising amphipathic molecules, where the membranes are present at interfaces between the layer comprising polar medium and the volumes of polar medium.
Complementary convex/concave interface surface configuration
Configuration in which the polar medium in the inner recesses has a convex surface and the membranes have a concave surface at the interface.
Constraining neighboring polar-medium volumes from contacting
Configuration in which the inner portions keep polar medium in neighboring inner recesses from contacting each other by constraining their volumes.
Membranes including nanopores
Membranes comprising nanopores.
Indentation aspect ratio constraint
Indentations having a depth-to-width aspect ratio between 1:1 and 10:1 inclusive.
Indentation width constraint
Indentations having a width between 5 and 20 microns inclusive.
Overall claim coverage centers on forming an array of amphipathic-molecule membranes at interfaces produced by a partitioned support with pillar-shaped outer portions patterned by indentations, using polar-medium volumes and a polar-medium layer with an apolar medium around the pillars. Dependent claim coverage specifies complementary convex/concave interface shapes, prevents contact between neighboring polar-medium volumes, constrains indentation geometry via depth-to-width and width ranges, and includes nanopores in the membranes.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
Interested in licensing this patent?