Abstract: A lipid membrane is self-assembled and stabilized at a solid surface by depositing a lipid monolayer or a lipid multilayer on a substrate, otaining a supported lipid monolayer or a supported lipid multilayer; and in situ polymerizing the supported lipid monolayer or the supported lipid multilayer, thereby obtaining a polymerized membrane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to moving microorganisms to a surface, where they are grown in the presence and absence of antimicrobials, and by monitoring the growth of the microorganisms over time in the two conditions, their susceptibility to the antimicrobials can be determined. The microorganisms can be moved to the surface through electrophoresis, centrifugation or filtration. When the movement involves electrophoresis, the presence of oxidizing and reducing reagents lowers the voltage at which electrophoretic force can be generated and allows a broader range of means by which the target can be detected. Monitoring can comprise optical detection, and most conveniently includes the detection of individual microorganisms. The microorganisms can be stained in order to give information about their response to antimicrobials.