Repulsion between inorganic particles inserted within surfactant bilayers.
We study by synchrotron small-angle x-ray scattering highly aligned lamellar phases of a zwitterionic surfactant, doped with monodisperse and spherical hydrophobic inorganic particles as a function of particle concentration. Analysis of the structure factor of the two-dimensional fluid formed by the particles in the plane of the bilayer gives access to their membrane-mediated interaction, which is repulsive, with a contact value of about 4kBT and a range of 14 angstroms. Systematic application of this technique should lead to a better understanding of the interaction between membrane inclusions.
Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS, UMR8502, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France. constantin@lps.u-psud.fr
Doru
D
Constantin
Brigitte
B
Pansu
Marianne
M
Impéror
Patrick
P
Davidson
François
F
Ribot
D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D015392:Chemistry, Inorganic; D004123:Dimethylamines / Q000737:chemistry*; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry*
D004123:Dimethylamines; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C014518:dodecyldimethylamine oxide