Two-component Langmuir monolayers and LB films of DPPC with partially fluorinated alcohol (F8H9OH)

The interaction of (perfluorooctyl)nonanol (F8H9OH) with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) was systematically studied in two-component monolayers at air-water interface. The thermodynamic property and phase morphology of the monolayers were investigated by isotherm measurements and several microscopic methods such as Brewster angle microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The AFM topographies for Langmuir-Blodgett films of F8H9OH exhibit the formation of monodispersed surface micelles. In the two-component system, the incorporation of F8H9OH induces condensation (or solidification) of DPPC monolayers. The excess Gibbs free energy and interaction parameter (or energy) of the two components were calculated from the isotherm data. Both the phase transition pressure for the coexistence of ordered and disordered phases and collapse pressure of monolayers vary with the mole fraction of F8H9OH, indicating binary miscibility between F8H9OH and DPPC within a monolayer state. The miscibility is also confirmed visually by in situ and ex situ microscopy at micro- and nanometer scales.