Work

DIB‐BOT: An Open‐Source Hardware Approach for Plate‐Integrated Droplet Interface Bilayer Deposition

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Droplet interface bilayers (DIBs) offer a controlled lipid environment for studying membrane‐bound processes, with applications in artificial cells, biosensing, and biophysics. Current DIB fabrication faces challenges due to time‐consuming processes and specialized equipment, limiting scale‐up and hindering statistical significance in single‐molecule assays. This research introduces “DIB‐BOT,” an open‐source solution combining a nanoinjector and a 3D printer. DIB‐BOT enables rapid, reproducible DIB fabrication, overcoming manual limitations. Using off‐the‐shelf components, DIB‐BOT ensures high spatial reproducibility, minimal user input, and scalable experiments. The system's utility is demonstrated through pairwise droplet assembly and a fluorescence plate‐reader assay. Compared to manual fabrication, DIB‐BOT shows a 10‐fold reduction in droplet volume error, a threefold reduction in positional error, and 100% droplet yield. This method lowers entry barriers to DIB research, expanding its applications and enhancing data quality.

Source: Advanced Materials Interfaces

DOI: 10.1002/admi.202400413

Authors: Alexander F Mason, Shelley FJ Wickham, Matthew AB Baker

Institutions: UNSW Sydney, The University of Sydney, ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology

Language: English

Topic: Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,100

Funder: Australian Research Council