Evidence of the hydration force in gel phase lipid multibilayers

J. Katsaras, K. R. Jeffrey

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present applied osmotic pressure vs. distance curves constructed from high-resolution neutron and X-ray diffraction scattering density profiles of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) multibilayers in the gel Lβ′ phase. The data, obtained from three distinct regions of the lipid bilayer, show that at small interbilayer distances the repulsion observed in these bilayers can be accounted for by the so-called "hydration force". Also, a previous observation of a sharp upward break in the pressure-distance curve of highly ordered Lc′ DPPC bilayers is not the result of steric repulsion but rather of a 2D → 3D phase transition. The data are consistent with a recent theoretical model which predicts that the repulsive forces in ordered phases (e.g., Lβ′ and Lc′ phases) are dominated by the hydration force.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)43-48
Number of pages6
JournalEPL
Volume38
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1 1997
Externally publishedYes

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