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Physik - Open Access LMU - Teil 01/02 Podcast
A phase of liposomes with entangled tubular vesicles

A phase of liposomes with entangled tubular vesicles

Physik - Open Access LMU - Teil 01/02 vor 31 Jahren

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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 Ltv, 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 Ltv phase coexists with the well-known L4 phase of
spherical vesicles and a bulk L alpha phase. However, the defining
characteristic of the Ltv phase is the Weissenberg rod climbing
effect under shear, which results from its polymer-like entangled
microstructure.