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Abstract
Cell membranes are complex nanostructures with remarkable properties. They are primarily composed of a lipid bilayer capable of hosting a multitude of biomolecules such as proteins, peptides, and pores that render the membrane stimuli-responsive and selectively permeable. Here, we exploit the inherent self-assembly properties of amphiphilic molecules found in cell membranes to develop 1) membrane-based stimuli-responsive materials and 2) novel micromembrane electrodes for biomolecular sensing. To this end, we use the droplet interface bilayer (DIB) technique that consists of creating synthetic bilayers at the interfaces of aqueous droplets in oil. We develop a droplet printer to print large networks of interconnected droplets at a much larger scale than previously feasible. The resulting tissue-like material is then encapsulated in a thermosensitive organogel to improve its portability, durability, and practicality in non-laboratory settings. We also propose novel hydrogel-based electrodes to create aqueous-hydrogel micromembranes in oil using similar self-assembly techniques, rapidly forming and separating lipid membranes for determining droplet compositions. Both topics demonstrate the potential for membrane-based materials and the use of lipid membranes in biomolecular detection.