Abstract
Visualization of phase coexistence in the βregion of cholesterol-phospholipid mixtures consisting of high cholesterol concentrations has proved elusive in lipid bilayers. Here, using the solvent-assisted lipid bilayer approach to prepare supported membranes with high cholesterol fractions close to the cholesterol solubility limit, we report the observation of coexisting liquid phases using fluorescence microscopy. At ∼63 mol % cholesterol, supported membranes consisting of mixtures of DOPC and cholesterol exhibit large-area striping reminiscent of the stripe superstructures that characterize the proximity of the second critical point in the miscibility phase diagram. The properties of the two phases are consistent with condensed complex-rich and cholesterol-rich liquids. Both phases exhibit long-range lateral mobility, and diffusion through a given phase is favored over hopping across the phase boundary, producing an "archipelago effect" and a complex percolation path.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 16962-16965 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Journal of the American Chemical Society |
Volume | 136 |
Issue number | 49 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Dec 10 2014 |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2014 American Chemical Society.
ASJC Scopus Subject Areas
- Catalysis
- General Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Colloid and Surface Chemistry