Transformation of Lipid Vesicles into Micelles by Adding Nonionic Surfactants: Elucidating the Structural Pathway and the Intermediate Structures.

ABSTRACT: The phospholipid lecithin (L) and the nonionic surfactant Tween 80 (T) are used together in various contexts, including in drug delivery and oil spill remediation. There is hence a need to elucidate the nanostructures in LT mixtures, which is the focus of this paper. We study these mixtures using cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), coupled with dynamic light scattering and small-angle neutron scattering. As the concentration of Tween 80 is increased, the vesicles formed by lecithin are transformed into spherical micelles. We identify bicelles (i.e., disc-like micelles) as well as cylindrical micelles as the key stable nanostructures formed at intermediate L/T ratios. The bicelles have diameters ∼13-26 nm, and the bicelle size decreases as the Tween 80 content increases.

SUBMITTER: Mkam Tsengam IK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8958590 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature