Facile Assembly of Micro- and Nanoarrays for Sensing with Natural Cell Membranes

Microarray technology has facilitated many powerful high-throughput studies in the fields of genetics and proteomics, among others. However, preparation of microarrays composed of cell-derived membranes with embedded receptors has proven difficult. Here we describe a new method for forming microarrays composed of synthetic lipid vesicles and natural cell membranes. The method is based upon assembly of vesicles and natural membranes into recessed micro- and nanowells and using a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) block as a “squeegee.” This method is used to assemble phospholipid vesicles into arrays with micrometer and nanoscale dimensions. Native myelin and neuronal lipid raft arrays are also formed in 30 min or less. We show the natural membrane arrays can be used for sensing lipid–protein interactions by detecting cholera toxin binding to ganglioside GM1 in neuronal lipid rafts. In multicomponent arrays myelin can be distinguished from neuronal rafts by antibody binding to cell-specific surface antigens. Finally, myelin arrays formed in gold nanowells are used for surface plasmon resonance sensing. This assembly approach is simple, broadly applicable, and opens up new avenues of research not easily accomplished with standard microarray technology.