Long-term storable and shippable lipid bilayer membrane platform.

The fragility and short lifetimes characteristic of conventionally formed lipid bilayer membranes has necessitated their preparation to be at the time and point of use. By using high freezing-point lipid-solvent mixtures, the process of lipid bilayer self-assembly may be reversibly arrested. In solid form, the bilayer precursor can be stored indefinitely and is sufficiently robust to withstand commercial shipping. Upon thawing, bilayer self-assembly resumes, resulting in a biologically functional membrane. Combination of this membrane precursor with an inexpensive chip results in a compact, practical, and disposable platform for ion channel measurements.