Electrochemical study of the interaction of alkali and alkaline-earth cations with a dibehenoyl phosphatidylcholine monolayer at the water/1,2-dichloroethane interface

• Published in: Electrochimica acta 1998-01, Vol.43 (14), p.2175-2181
• Main Authors: Chesniuk, S.G, Dassie, S.A, Yudi, L.M, Baruzzi, A.M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: alkali and alkaline-earth cations; Artificial membranes and reconstituted systems; Biological and medical sciences; Chemistry; Electrochemistry; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General and physical chemistry; ion transfer; ITIES; Membrane physicochemistry; Molecular biophysics; phospholipid monolayer; Study of interfaces; Transport phenomena
• ISSN: 0013-4686; 1873-3859
• DOI: 10.1016/S0013-4686(97)10006-8

The transfer of alkali and alkaline-earth cations across a dibehenoyl phosphatidyl choline (DBPC) monolayer is analysed by cyclic voltammetry and capacitance measurements. A cation adsorption process at the polar head of the phospholipid was evidenced. After the adsorption an enhancement of the current or a blocking of the transfer process was produced, depending on the nature and cation concentration. This blocking arises as a consequence of the packing induced by Li + or alkaline-earth cations adsorption at high concentrations which, in addition, is responsible for the destruction of the monolayer at high positive potentials. Capacitance measurements reinforce this statement. This paper also illustrates how electrochemical measurements at ITIES are a useful methodology for studying cation interactions with lipidic membranes and the transfer processes which occur across them.