| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1253315 | Chemistry and Physics of Lipids | 2012 | 8 Pages |
The line tension (λ) in biphasic membranes has been determined in monolayers and bilayers using a variety of techniques. In this work we present a novel approach to the determination of λ in monolayers with liquid/liquid phase coexistence, overcoming several of the drawbacks of current techniques. Using our method, we determined the line tension of liquid/liquid phases in binary mixtures of different lipids and a molecule similar to cholesterol but less oxidizable. We analyzed the effect of the hydrocarbon chain length and the polar head-group of the non-sterol lipid and found the latter to exert much more influence than the former. The presence of PE led to high λ values, PG to low values and PS and PC to intermediate values. The line tension showed a strong correlation with the critical packing parameter of the phospholipid. The spontaneous curvature displayed by the phases constituted by a particular lipid appears to be an important parameter for determining the line tension in mixed films.
Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Liquid domains were deformed using an electric field. ► The line tension of liquid phases in coexistence was determined at 4 mN/m. ► Mixtures with PE lipids present the higher line tension values. ► Mixtures with DPPG present the lower line tension values. ► Line tension correlates with the critical packing parameter of the non-sterol lipid.
