Concentration-dependent effect of melatonin on DSPC membrane

• The interaction of melatonin on DSPC MLVs was investigated.
• Spectral and calorimetric analysis techniques were used in this study.
• This study shows there are strong interactions between melatonin and lipid membranes.

The concentration-induced effects of melatonin on distearoyl phosphatidylcholine (DSPC) model membranes were investigated by using two different non-invasive techniques, namely Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). An investigation of the CH, CO and PO2- double bond stretching mode in FTIR spectra and DSC studies reveals that the inclusion of melatonin changes the physical properties of the DSPC multilamellar liposomes (MLVs) by shifting the main phase transition to lower temperatures, abolishing the pretransition, ordering the system in the gel phase and slightly disordering the system in the liquid crystalline phase, increasing the dynamics both in the gel phase and liquid crystalline phases. Melatonin also causes strong hydrogen bonding between CO and PO2- groups of lipids and the water molecules around.

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