Solid support membranes for ion channel arrays and sensors: application to rapid screening of pharmacological compounds.

The present invention relates to synthetic membranes and provides a solid supported membrane comprising: a support; a chromium layer; a gold layer; an alkyl monolayer, a lipid monolayer; and an ion channel protein, wherein the alkyl monolayer and the lipid monolayer form a bilayer, and further wherein a functionally reconstituted ion channel is supported, and methods for forming them. The invention further provides methods and applications of the membranes in rapid screening for pharmacological agents and as bioelectric smart sensors.