SBIR Phase II: Membrane Protein Microarrays

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project proposes to develop a product platform based on polymer cushion coated glass slides with controlled surface charge density for membrane protein microarray fabrication. The key technical objectives for Phase II research are : (a) to complete quantitative studies on surface charge density in the formation of supported phospholipid bilayer (SPB) from charged lipids , (b) to develop the chemistry for the grafting / adsorption of polymer cushions, (c) to measure the activities of membrane proteins in SPBs, and (d) to fabricate membrane protein microarrays based on surface pre-patterning using soft lithography techniques. The commercial application of this project will be in the area of protein microarrays for use in disease diagnostics and for drug discovery research. The proposed technology will enable development of therapeutics aimed at membrane protein targets.