Domain Formation in Lipid Bilayer Membranes: Control of Membrane Nanostructure by Molecular Architecture

Summary.

Lipid-polymer conjugates with differing hydrophobic to hydrophilic dimensions were prepared. The polymer part consisted of hydrophilic poly(2-methyl-1,3-oxazolines) (POZO), whose chain length can be controlled by living polymerization methods. The lipid-polymer conjugates were incorporated into vesicles composed of L-α-dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) or L-α-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) in amounts of up to 25 mol%. The formation of domains within the lipid bilayer membrane is observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM), thermal analysis (DSC), and fluorescence spectroscopy. The synthetic design of the lipids allows control over the distribution of polymer chains on the vesicle surface.