The Impact of Nonequilibrium Conditions in Lung Surfactant: Structure and Composition Gradients in Multilamellar Films.

ABSTRACT: The lipid-protein mixture that covers the lung alveoli, lung surfactant, ensures mechanical robustness and controls gas transport during breathing. Lung surfactant is located at an interface between water-rich tissue and humid, but not fully saturated, air. The resulting humidity difference places the lung surfactant film out of thermodynamic equilibrium, which triggers the buildup of a water gradient. Here, we present a millifluidic method to assemble multilamellar interfacial films from vesicular dispersions of a clinical lung surfactant extract used in replacement therapy. Using small-angle X-ray scattering, infrared, Raman, and optical microscopies, we show that the interfacial film consists of several coexisting lamellar phases displaying a substantial variation in water swelling. Thi

SUBMITTER: Andersson JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6202641 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature