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Self-Assembly of Hybrid Lipid Membranes Doped with Hydrophobic Organic Molecules at the Water/Air Interface
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Water-lipid interface in lipidic mesophases with excess water
Yang Yao1, Sara Catalini2,3,4, Paolo Foggi2,4,5
1Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland. raffaele.mezzenga@hest.ethz.ch.
Faraday Discussions
|October 3, 2023
Summary
Excess water accelerates lipid dynamics and increases headgroup flexibility during phase transitions in lipidic mesophases. This plasticizing effect is crucial for understanding lipid behavior in different phases.
Area of Science:
- Physical Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Biophysics
Background:
- Lipidic mesophases exhibit complex phase transitions.
- Understanding water's role in these transitions is vital for various applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the impact of excess water on lipid dynamics during the diamond cubic (Pn3̄m) to reverse hexagonal (HII) phase transition.
- Characterize the influence of water on lipid headgroups, tails, and interfacial regions.
Main Methods:
- Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS)
- Broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS)
- Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy
Main Results:
- BDS revealed three lipid relaxation processes, all showing a kink during phase transition.
- Excess water accelerated these processes due to a plasticizing effect.
- FTIR and BDS confirmed denser headgroup packing in the HII phase compared to the Pn3̄m phase.
- Excess water was found to permeate the lipid interface, forming hydrogen bonds with carbonyl groups, leading to more flexible headgroups.
Conclusions:
- Excess water significantly influences lipid dynamics and structural organization during phase transitions.
- The plasticizing effect of water enhances headgroup flexibility and alters interfacial interactions.
- Findings provide insights into water-lipid interactions in mesophase systems.
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