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Related Experiment Videos

Structures of surfactant films: a scanning force microscopy study.

R Grunder1, P Gehr, H Bachofen

  • 1Dept of Anatomy, University of Berne, Switzerland.

The European Respiratory Journal
|January 7, 2000
PubMed
Summary

Surfactant films in the lungs are more complex than a simple monolayer. Scanning force microscopy reveals varied structures and phase transitions, challenging existing hypotheses about lung surfactant function.

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Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary physiology
  • Surface chemistry
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • The alveolar lining layer is traditionally viewed as a simple aqueous hypophase covered by a dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) monolayer.
  • Emerging evidence from electron microscopy and in vitro studies suggests a more intricate structure for pulmonary surfactant films.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the complex structure of pulmonary surfactant films.
  • To explore the relationship between film compression, surface pressure, and film morphology.
  • To challenge the established hypothesis of a homogeneous phospholipid monolayer.

Main Methods:

  • Spreading of four distinct surfactants on a Langmuir-Wilhelmy balance.
  • Transfer of surfactant films onto mica substrates using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique.

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  • Imaging of surfactant films in air using scanning force microscopy (SFM) in contact mode.

    • Main Results:

    • Scanning force microscopy revealed that surfactant films are heterogeneous and exhibit phase transitions at varying surface pressures.
    • Different surfactants displayed distinct surface patterns even at similar surface pressures.
    • Inclusion of surfactant proteins (SP-B and SP-C) resulted in observable differences in film surface structure.

    Conclusions:

    • The widely accepted model of a regular phospholipid monolayer governing surface tension is likely an oversimplification.
    • The structure-function relationship of surface-active surfactant films is more complex than previously understood.
    • SFM provides valuable insights into the nanoscale architecture of pulmonary surfactant films.