Electroformation of Giant Vesicles on a Non-Electroconductive Substrate

摘要

A cell-sized lipid bilayer membrane vesicle or a giant vesicle (GV) has been used as a model in studies of the basic properties of the membrane and the functions of biomolecules.1 It is also expected to be the structural foundation in the future construction of an artificial cell. For preparation of GVs, the electroformation first developed by Angelova and Dimitrov has presently become an indispensable method. In the conventional electroformation, a lipid deposit is made on the surfaces of one or both electrodes of either indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass plates or Pt wires positioned parallel to each other. Application of AC voltage between the two electrodes during the swelling of the lipid in water forms GVs attached on the electrode.