Layer-by-layer Cell Membrane Assembly

Eukaryotic subcellular membrane systems, such as the nuclear envelope or endoplasmic reticulum, present a rich array of architecturally and compositionally complex supramolecular targets that are yet inaccessible. Here we describe layer-by-layer phospholipid membrane assembly on microfluidic droplets, a route to structures with defined compositional asymmetry and lamellarity. Starting with phospholipid-stabilized water-in-oil droplets trapped in a static droplet array, lipid monolayer deposition proceeds as oil/water phase boundaries pass over the droplets. Unilamellar vesicles assembled layer-by-layer support functional insertion of both purified and in situ expressed membrane proteins. Synthesis and chemical probing of asymmetric unilamellar and double bilayer vesicles demonstrate the programmability of both membrane lamellarity and lipid leaflet composition during assembly. The immobilized vesicle arrays are a pragmatic experimental platform for biophysical studies of membranes and their associated proteins, particularly complexes that assemble and function in multilamellar contexts in vivo.