DEVICE FOR SORTING, CLASSIFYING, AND ASSAYING PARTITION BEHAVIOR OF CELL MEMBRANE BIOMOLECULES AND METHODS BASED THEREON

摘要

A biomolecule partitioning device (BPD) is provided that can be used to separate and sort membrane species into raft-like membrane regions without using detergent or crosslinkers. The BPD can comprise one or more microfluidic channels coated with coexistent lipid phases (raft-like and fluid-like lipid compositions) as a contiguous supported lipid bilayer (SLB). The geometry of the phases can be patterned with spatial and temporal control within each channel. Methods for the separation and sorting are also provided. The method can comprise the steps of introducing cell membrane species into an SLB; patterning coexistent phases; applying an electric field or hydrodynamic flow to move the species; sorting migrating species into regions based on their partitioning preference; and collecting sorted species in a quantification area. The BPD can also be used to measure partitioning kinetics or to assay for activity changes of biomolecules as a function of local lipid environment.