The role of surface energy in guanosine nucleotide alignment: an intriguing scenario.
In this paper we report how the confining surfaces and the ionic effects of different concentration of guanosine solution can be used to vary the alignment of liquid crystal phases of guanosine nucleotides. Liquid crystal phases of guanosine 5'-monophosphate ammonium salt and guanosine 5'-monophosphate free acid in pure water, with and without silver sulphate, were studied by polarized optical microscope. A periodic modulation of the texture was observed. This modulation depends on both on the concentration and on the presence of silver ions in the liquid crystal phase. We demonstrate that, according to the surface energy of the alignment layers, it is possible to homeotropically align the guanosine chromonic phase without applying any external magnetic field. Finally, we report the formation of spherical, vesicle-like guanosine 5'-monophosphate aggregates, when the solution was confined between two hydrophobic surfaces containing exposed Si groups.
Physics Department, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy; IPCF-CNR UOS Cosenza c/o Phys. Dep. University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy. Electronic address: caterina.tone@fis.unical.it.
Caterina M
CM
Tone
Physics Department, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy; IPCF-CNR UOS Cosenza c/o Phys. Dep. University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy. Electronic address: maria.desanto@fis.unical.it.
Maria P
MP
De Santo
IPCF-CNR UOS Cosenza c/o Phys. Dep. University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy. Electronic address: federica.ciuchi@cnr.it.
Federica
F
Ciuchi
D006157:Guanosine Monophosphate / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry*; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D013431:Sulfates; D013499:Surface Properties; D013816:Thermodynamics
D013431:Sulfates; D012834:Silver; D006157:Guanosine Monophosphate
Alignment; Chromonics; Guanosine monophosphate; Surface energy