Droplet shape analysis and permeability studies in droplet lipid bilayers.

We apply optical manipulation to prepare lipid bilayers between pairs of water droplets immersed in an oil matrix. These droplet pairs have a well-defined geometry allowing the use of droplet shape analysis to perform quantitative studies of the dynamics during bilayer formation and to determine time-dependent values for the droplet volumes, bilayer radius, bilayer contact angle, and droplet center-line approach velocity. During bilayer formation, the contact angle rises steadily to an equilibrium value determined by the bilayer adhesion energy. When there is a salt concentration imbalance between droplets, there is a measurable change in the droplet volume. We present an analytical expression for this volume change and use this expression to calculate the bilayer permeability to water.