title: Lipid tubule self-assembly: length dependence on cooling rate through a first-order phase transition.
abstract: The formation kinetics and self-assembly of multilamellar tubules of the diacetylenic phospholipid 1,2-bis(tricosa-10,12-diynoyl)-sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine formed under controlled cooling rates were studied by x-ray diffraction and optical, atomic force, and scanning electron microscopy. Tubule formation was driven by a reversible first-order phase transition from an intralamellar, chain-melted L(alpha) phase to a chain-frozen L(beta), phase. These observations are the basis of a highly efficient method of tubule production in which tubule lengths can be controlled, between 1 and 100 micrometers, by varying the cooling rate. These tubules can be made in suspensions with 10 percent lipid by mass, far exceeding the lipid solubility limit.
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Safinya
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Plano
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Clark