Characterization of self-assembled hybrid siloxane-phosphocholine bilayers

• Published in: Chemistry and physics of lipids 2018-11, Vol.216, p.1-8
• Main Authors: Frampton, Mark B., Nguyen, Michael H.L., DiPasquale, Mitchell, Dick, Robert, Marquardt, Drew, Zelisko, Paul M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Differential scanning calorimetry; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Lipid Bilayers - chemical synthesis; Lipid Bilayers - chemistry; Liposomes; Molecular Structure; Phosphorylcholine - chemistry; Siloxane-phospholipid; Siloxanes - chemistry; Small angle X-ray scattering; Unilamellar vesicles
• ISSN: 0009-3084; 1873-2941
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2018.07.007

[Display omitted] •Siloxane-phosophocholines spontaneously self-assemble into unilamellar vesicles.•Self-assembly is driven by both the hydrophobic effect and oleophobic effect.•Siloxane-phosphocholine membranes are relatively fluid. We have synthesized six new hybrid siloxane phosphocholines (SiPCs) and examined their self-assembly behaviour in aqueous dispersions. Employing small angle X-ray scattering we have characterized SiPC bilayers. SiPCs exhibit differential self-assembly behaviour that results from the interplay between the siloxane fatty acid in the sn-2 position and the differing chain length fatty acids in the sn-1 position. SiPCs that possess a fatty acid chain of a C8–C14 chain length in the sn-1 position form unilamellar vesicles. Extending the fatty acid chain length to C16 and C18 allows for the formation of both unilamellar and multilamellar vesicles. We propose that the preferential formation of unilamellar vesicles is the result of an enhanced hydrophobic effect imparted by siloxane chains at the termini of lipid tails.