Mimicking Cellular Membranes With Micropatterned Lipid Bilayers

Studying the role of membranes in cell biophysics requires experimental models which faithfully capture the compositional and topological complexity of cellular structures. This is particularly important for membrane structures that are just at the limit of, or even below optical resolution, such as bacterial cells. Micropatterning is one of the key enabling technologies for the precise manipulation of compositional heterogeneity, morphology, and topography in artificial membranes, bringing in vitro models closer to cellular reality. This perspective highlights recent works which implement micropatterning to mimic cellular membranes and discuss how cellular mechanisms, specifically bacterial ones, may be addressed through the replication of membrane heterogeneity, confinement, and nano- and microscale topographical features. It spotlights micropatterning as an invaluable tool for quantitative studies to dissect the topological determinants of cellular function. A thorough understanding of these will lay the foundation for increasingly complex systems to be reconstructed in vitro.