Porous silicon membrane, with an integrated aqueous supply, for two chamber AFM

International audienceImaging membrane proteins in aqueous solution in their native configuration remains a challenge for atomic force microscopy (AFM). Usually, supported lipidic bilayer membranes decorated with proteins have been imaged most of the time on mica surfaces. However, for proteic transmembrane structures, the presence of the underlying substrate can be detrimental inducing a denaturation process. In this paper we present a full silicon process enabling the fabrication of free standing suspended lipidic membranes on nanoholes suitable for liquid AFM imaging. A simple microfluidic device gives access to both sides of the membranes enabling dynamical chemical changes to be performed during AFM imaging