The influence of pH on phosphatidylethanolamine monolayer at the air/aqueous solution interface

The dependence of the interfacial tension of a phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) monolayer on the pH of the aqueous solution has been studied. A theoretical equation is derived to describe this dependence. A simple model of the influence of pH on the phosphatidylethanolamine monolayer at the air/hydrophobic chains of PE is presented. The contributions of additive phosphatidylethanolamine forms (both interfacial tension values and molecular area values) depend on pH. The interfacial tension values and the molecular area values for PEH(+) and PEOH(-) forms of phosphatidylethanolamine were calculated. The assumed model was verified experimentally. The experimental results agreed with those derived from the theoretical equation in a whole range of pH values.