title: Thermodynamic approach to phase coexistence in ternary phospholipid-cholesterol mixtures.
abstract: We introduce a simple and predictive model for determining the phase stability of ternary phospholipid-cholesterol mixtures. Assuming that competition between the liquid and gel order of the phospholipids is the main driving force behind lipid segregation, we derive a Gibbs free energy of mixing, based on the thermodynamic properties of the lipids main transition. A numerical approach was devised that enables the fast and efficient determination of the ternary diagrams associated with our Gibbs free energy. The computed phase coexistence diagram of DOPC/DPPC/cholesterol reproduces well-known features for this system at 10 °C, as well as its evolution with temperature.
authors.affiliation: Institut Charles Sadron, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS UPR 22, 23 rue du Loess, Strasbourg Cedex, F-67037, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Thalmann
mesh_terms: D002784:Cholesterol / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D044367:Phase Transition; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D010743:Phospholipids; D002784:Cholesterol