Nanostructured separation and analysis devices for biological membranes

Abstract

The present invention provides a nonostructured device comprising a substrate including nanotroughs therein; and a lipid bilayer suspended on or supported in the substrate. A separation method is also provided comprising the steps of supporting or suspending a lipid bilayer on a substrate; wherein the subtrate comprises nanostructures and wherein the lipid bilayer comprises at least one membrane associated biomolecule; and applying a driving force to the lipid bilayer to separate the membrane associated biomolecule from the lipid bilayer and to drive the membrane associated biomolecule into the nanostructures.A fluidic device for separating particles according to size is provided including a fluidic channel, and a matrix comprising a plurality of protrusions within the fluidic channel, wherein the device provides a driving force to the particles being separated through the fluidic channel; and wherein a flow of the driving force from between the protrusions is divided unequally into a major flow component and a minor flow component, each component flowing between subsequent protrusions in the matrix, such that the average direction of the major flow component is not parallel to the average direction of the driving force, and, when particles are introduced into the matrix, particles having a size less than a predetermined critical size are transported generally in the average direction of the driving force, and particles having a size at least that of the critical size are transported generally in the average direction of the major flow component, thereby separating the particles according to size. Methods for separating particles including steps of separation based on size and affinity are also provided.