> Phospholipid molecules spontaneously form bilayer lipid membranes by

   Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interaction in the water.

> Membrane proteins perform  various functions in the cell membranes.

> Some membrane protein transport substances, energy and information between

   outside and inside the cells.

> Membrane proteins perform as the transporter of ions and medicines, the receptor

   of odorant and light, and the perception of mechanical stress

 In our laboratory,

> We manufacture the platform for preparing artificial cell membranes by using a micro

   electro mechanical system (MEMS).

> System construction for measuring the signals of membrane protein reconstituted in

   lipid bilayer membranes.

> Application for biosensor, drug development and physicochemical study in controlled

   nano-space.

> Utilizing molecules, proteins, DNA/RNA, lipid, cell, MEMS, microfluidics techniques in

   our study.

> Microfabrication by photolithography in a clean room.

> CAD/CAM micromilling for plastic fabrication.

> Manufacture of electrodes by metal deposition and  confirmation of processing accuracy

   by a measuring microscope.

> Applying of oil/lipid solution and buffer solution into a chamber, two lipid monolayers

   are formed at the surface of aqueous droplets.

> Two droplet contact together and bilayer lipid membrane can be formed.

> Artificial cell membranes mimicking natural cell membranes are able to be formed by

   various types of lipid molecules.

> Ions pass through a nanopore (≈1.4 nm in diameter)  reconstituted in membranes

   cause current increase.

> A translocating molecules through the pore  show the blocking current.

> Application: drug testing, food inspection, and diagnostic pathology.

> Bottom-up construction with biological molecules for “Molecular robot”.

> Construction of logic circuits modeled after living cells by networking droplets.

> Large-scale parallel computation of the droplet system by combining chemical sensing

   using nanopores.

> DNA computing, which uses programmed DNA as logic elements, enables large-scale

   parallel computation which is difficult for existing computers.

> Although this calculation requires longer detection time because of DNA amplification

   by PCR and detection by fluorescence imaging, we implemented a reduction of detection

   time by electrical detection using nanopore sensing.

> Nanopores enable the detection and  translocation to next droplet at the single molecule

   level.

> Antimicrobial peptides kill mycetocyte  by forming nanopore into the cell membranes.

> Pore-forming of the antimicrobial peptide is measured electrically using artificial cell

   membranes.

> Clarification of pore-forming mechanism of the antimicrobial peptide and  its application

   of antimicrobial drugs  are expected.

> Microfluidic enables energy and sample saving in chemical analysis by microscale

   operation or chemical reaction on a microchip.

> The flow velocity in micro channels can be controlled precisely.

> The simultaneous chemical reaction is caused by flowing into some reaction fields

   thorough microchannels.

> The control of a flux in an oil layer and a water layer enables to form the uniform-

   sized microdroplet.