Local cargo delivery to double bilayer compartments

Abstract

In this work we investigated the encapsulation of fluorescent cargo during temperature-induced formation of lipid double bilayer membrane pockets on silicon carbide substrates. This exotic mode of autonomous membrane transformation, so far only observed on silicon carbide, leads to double-bilayer-enveloped compartments. For localized superfusion and investigation of cargo transfer to the emerging pockets, a hard polymer (photo crosslinked SUEX™ epoxy) open space microfluidic device was developed. Encapsulation occurs rapidly, and cargo is effectively retained in pockets between distal and proximal bilayer, but escapes de-wetted compartments through double bilayer ruptures that connect the compartment interior to the surrounding medium.