Kinetics of subgel formation in DPPC: X-ray diffraction proves nucleation-growth hypothesis

Wide-angle and low-angle X-ray diffraction data were obtained during the time course of the gel to subgel phase transformation in fully hydrated DPPC. When the system was kept close to equilibrium by following a T-jump protocol, the X-ray data unequivocally demonstrate the coexistence of growing subgel and shrinking gel domains. When the system was supercooled and held further from equilibrium as in previous studies, the kinetic behavior was more complicated. These data prove that the basic mechanism for the gel to subgel phase transformation is one of nucleation of subgel domains followed by growth of the domains.