Phosphate mineral formation on the supported dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) layers

Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) mono- and bilayers supported on mica surface were soaked for two weeks in a simulated body fluid (SBF) with ion concentrations nearly equal to those of human blood plasma. Two solutions were investigated: with and without Tris. The experiment was conducted at 20°C and at a physiological temperature equal to 37°C. Raman spectroscopy was used for the characterization of the precipitated phosphate minerals. These studies may provide information about the physiological mineralization of cell membranes that are mainly composed of phospholipids. Findings from these experiments suggest that the DPPC bilayers enhance the formation of less soluble phosphate forms especially at a temperature of 37°C. In the solution without Tris temperature increase gives more mineral deposits. It is probably the hydrogen interactions between phosphate groups of the phospholipid and hydroxyl groups from Tris that lower exposure of the phosphate group to interact with calcium ions.