A phase of liposomes with entangled tubular vesicles
- Univ. of California, Santa Barbara, CA (United States)
- Exxon Research and Engineering Co., Annandale, NJ (United States)
An equilibrium phase belonging to the family of bilayer liposomes in ternary mixtures of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC), water, and geraniol (a biological alcohol derived from oil-soluble vitamins that acts as a cosurfactant) has been identified. Electron and optical microscopy reveal the phase, labeled L{sub tv}, to be composed of highly entangled tubular vesicles. In situ x-ray diffraction confirms that the tubule walls are multilamellar with the lipids in the chain-melted state. Macroscopic observations show that the L{sub tv} phase coexists with the well-known L{sub 4} phase of spherical vesicles and a bulk L{sub {alpha}} phase. However, the defining characteristic of the L{sub tv} phase is the Weissenberg rod climbing effect under shear, which results from its polymer-like entangled microstructure. 26 refs., 5 figs.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 70326
- Journal Information:
- Science, Vol. 266, Issue 5188; Other Information: PBD: 18 Nov 1994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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