Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 25, 2025

Phase Behavior of Charged Vesicles Under Symmetric and Asymmetric Solution Conditions Monitored with Fluorescence Microscopy
Published on: October 24, 2017
Tubules, beads, discs and junctions - Morphologies and dynamics of dispersed multilamellar lipid phases in excess
1Department of Theory and Bio-Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science-Park, Golm, 14424 Potsdam.
Abstract:
In this paper, experimental results on the swelling, dispersion and disintegration of the lamellae composed of the lipid, 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) in contact with excess water are described. Multilamellar structures nucleate and grow at the interface between the pure solvent and the lipid. The system evolves slowly via flow and coalescence of lamellae through a variety of non-equilibrium morphologies demonstrating that their dynamics is complex and non-universal, with no unique kinetic pathway. The tubular structures disintegrate slowly into the bulk water phase, inside the sealed sample chamber.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Fluid Mosaic Model
Membrane Fluidity
Mosaic nature of the membrane
The mosaic characteristic of the membrane helps the plasma membrane remain fluid. The integral proteins and lipids exist as separate but loosely-attached molecules in the membrane. The membrane is...
Membrane Fluidity
Colloids
Membrane Domains
Protein Domains
The membrane comprises a group of distinct proteins responsible for carrying out a cell's specific function. For example, the plasma membrane of the human sperm, or a single germ cell, contains a unique set of proteins in the...
Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation
Another mechanism for membrane domain formation involves membrane proteins interacting with...

