Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026

10:15
Atomic Force Microscopy Imaging and Force Spectroscopy of Supported Lipid Bilayers
Published on: July 22, 2015
X-ray reflectivity study on the structure and phase stability of mixed phospholipid multilayers
1Department of Chemistry and Interdisciplinary Program of Integrated Biotechnology, Sogang-HANARO Joint Center for Biological Interfaces, Sogang University, Seoul 121-742, Korea.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|August 29, 2009
Summary
This study investigated mixed phospholipid multilayers of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoserine (DPPS). Lipid spacing varied with composition, and no phase separation occurred during annealing.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biophysics
- Surface Chemistry
Background:
- Phospholipids are key components of biological membranes.
- Understanding lipid mixtures is crucial for biomimetic materials.
- DPPC and DPPS are saturated phospholipids with distinct headgroups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structural properties of mixed DPPC/DPPS multilayers.
- To determine the effect of composition on lipid spacing.
- To assess the phase stability of these multilayers under varying conditions.
Main Methods:
- Deposition of vertically oriented multilayers on silicon substrates.
- X-ray reflectivity to analyze multilayer structure and composition.
- Annealing experiments under humid conditions to study phase stability.
Main Results:
- Lipid spacing in mixed DPPC/DPPS multilayers showed systematic variation with the DPPC/DPPS ratio.
- No macroscopic phase separation was observed during annealing.
- Multilayer integrity was maintained under both dry and humid annealing conditions.
Conclusions:
- Mixed phospholipid multilayers exhibit tunable structural properties based on composition.
- DPPC/DPPS mixtures demonstrate good phase stability, suitable for various applications.
- These findings contribute to the development of advanced lipid-based materials.
Related Concept Videos
Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer
Biological membranes show uneven distribution of different types of lipids in the inner and outer layers, resulting in transverse asymmetric membranes. The treatment of the erythrocyte membrane with the enzyme phospholipase confirmed the asymmetric nature of the lipid bilayer. The enzyme hydrolyzes lipids into fatty acids and hydrophilic groups. The phospholipase acts only on the outer layer of the membrane, while the inner layer remains intact. The phospholipase treatment resulted in 80%...
Membrane Fluidity
Cell membranes are composed of phospholipids, proteins, and carbohydrates loosely attached to one another through chemical interactions. Molecules are generally able to move about in the plane of the membrane, giving the membrane its flexible nature called fluidity. Two other features of the membrane contribute to membrane fluidity: the chemical structure of the phospholipids and the presence of cholesterol in the membrane.Fatty acids tails of phospholipids can be either saturated or...

