Effects of Ethanol on the Phase Behavior of Dioleoylphosphocholine Bilayers

Abstract

Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was used to analyze the thermotropic phase behaviour of dioleoylphosphocholine (DOPC) bilayers in the presence of ethanol. Both heating and cooling scans were run as a function of ethanol concentration. The main transition temperatures correspond to indicate the gel-to-liquid phase transition. The main transition temperatures generally decrease during the heating scans over time, as well as over increasing concentrations of ethanol. This suggests that increasing concentrations of ethanol may stabilize the liquid-crystalline phase under varying conditions. Further investigation into the possible stabilizing influence of ethanol on DOPC is recommended.