Publication date: 5th July 2021
Phospholipid bilayers found in cell membranes have an asymmetric distribution of lipid types between their inner and outer faces. This degrades in some diseases, such as cancer, and affects drug transport into cells. We have developed a microfluidic platform for the formation of asymmetric droplet interface bilayers (DIBs) made from naturally derived phospholipids to mimic real cell membranes, for the quantification of drug transport. With our platform we formed asymmetric bilayers using complex biomimetic mixtures of phospholipids, and demonstrated their asymmetry through measurement of membrane curvature. Our asymmetric DIBs revealed measurable changes to membrane permeability for the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin, highlighting another possible mechanism for chemoresistance in some forms of cancer.