Elsevier created a free COVID-19 resource center in January 2020, offering English and Mandarin information on the virus. The center is hosted on Elsevier Connect, and the company grants permission to freely share its research in PubMed Central and other repositories for unrestricted reuse. The article discusses solid supported lipid bilayers, which are important for studying cell surface chemistry and are accessible to various surface-specific techniques. It reviews different membrane systems, including black lipid membranes, solid supported lipid bilayers, hybrid lipid bilayers, and polymer cushioned lipid bilayers. The article explores how supported lipid membrane technology is integrated with array-based systems using methods like photolithographic patterning, spatial addressing, microcontact printing, and microfluidic patterning. It also examines the use of supported lipid bilayers in microfluidic devices for lab-on-a-chip platforms and their utility in nanotechnology. Black lipid membranes, developed in the 1960s, are used to study biophysical processes like ion channel formation. They are suspended in solution and avoid contact with a substrate, allowing transmembrane proteins to remain mobile. However, they are less stable and harder to manipulate than solid supported bilayers. Solid supported lipid bilayers are more robust and stable, allowing the use of surface-specific analytical techniques. They are supported by a 10–20 Å water layer, which maintains membrane fluidity. Substrates like fused silica, borosilicate glass, and mica are suitable for supporting lipid bilayers. Methods for forming supported bilayers include the Langmuir-Blodgett technique, vesicle fusion, and a combination of both. SAM/monolayer systems use self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) to modify electrode surfaces, enabling the formation of hybrid bilayer membranes. These systems allow for non-labeled analyte detection through electrical measurements and surface plasmon resonance. Polymer cushioned lipid bilayers use a polymer layer to decouple the membrane from the substrate, reducing nonspecific adsorption and improving stability. Polyelectrolyte and lipopolymer cushions are effective in this regard. Arrays of supported phospholipid membranes and microfluidic platforms are used for rapid data collection, with techniques like photolithographic patterning and microcontact printing enabling the creation of spatially addressed arrays. These arrays allow for the study of cell signaling, ligand-receptor interactions, and other biological processes. The article highlights the challenges in maintaining hydration for supported lipid bilayers and the importance of polymer cushions in overcoming these challenges.Elsevier created a free COVID-19 resource center in January 2020, offering English and Mandarin information on the virus. The center is hosted on Elsevier Connect, and the company grants permission to freely share its research in PubMed Central and other repositories for unrestricted reuse. The article discusses solid supported lipid bilayers, which are important for studying cell surface chemistry and are accessible to various surface-specific techniques. It reviews different membrane systems, including black lipid membranes, solid supported lipid bilayers, hybrid lipid bilayers, and polymer cushioned lipid bilayers. The article explores how supported lipid membrane technology is integrated with array-based systems using methods like photolithographic patterning, spatial addressing, microcontact printing, and microfluidic patterning. It also examines the use of supported lipid bilayers in microfluidic devices for lab-on-a-chip platforms and their utility in nanotechnology. Black lipid membranes, developed in the 1960s, are used to study biophysical processes like ion channel formation. They are suspended in solution and avoid contact with a substrate, allowing transmembrane proteins to remain mobile. However, they are less stable and harder to manipulate than solid supported bilayers. Solid supported lipid bilayers are more robust and stable, allowing the use of surface-specific analytical techniques. They are supported by a 10–20 Å water layer, which maintains membrane fluidity. Substrates like fused silica, borosilicate glass, and mica are suitable for supporting lipid bilayers. Methods for forming supported bilayers include the Langmuir-Blodgett technique, vesicle fusion, and a combination of both. SAM/monolayer systems use self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) to modify electrode surfaces, enabling the formation of hybrid bilayer membranes. These systems allow for non-labeled analyte detection through electrical measurements and surface plasmon resonance. Polymer cushioned lipid bilayers use a polymer layer to decouple the membrane from the substrate, reducing nonspecific adsorption and improving stability. Polyelectrolyte and lipopolymer cushions are effective in this regard. Arrays of supported phospholipid membranes and microfluidic platforms are used for rapid data collection, with techniques like photolithographic patterning and microcontact printing enabling the creation of spatially addressed arrays. These arrays allow for the study of cell signaling, ligand-receptor interactions, and other biological processes. The article highlights the challenges in maintaining hydration for supported lipid bilayers and the importance of polymer cushions in overcoming these challenges.