Chain length dependence of anomalous swelling in multilamellar lipid vesicles

Abstract:

Using small-angle X-ray scattering, the repeat distance vs. temperature is measured for a homologous series of multilamellar vesicles of lecithins with varying acyl chain length in excess water condition around the lipid main transition. A systematic chain length dependence is found which is in accordance with a bending rigidity renormalization and critical unbinding of the lamellae close to the transition, as previously suggested in Hønger et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 72, 3911 (1994)].