Molecular organization in phases of lecithin-cholate-water as studied by nuclear magnetic resonance

The molecular organization in the liquid crystalline phases and the micellar solution phase has been investigated using numerous nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. A brief review of previous studies on the lamellar, hexagonal and cubic liquid crystalline phases is given. Mixed micelles were studied by measurements of 2H T1 and T2 nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation times of 2H-labeled phosphatidylcholine. Using simple and rough models, the size and shape of the micellar aggregate were estimated.