title: Phase coexistence in single-lipid membranes induced by buffering agents.
abstract: Recent literature has shown that buffers affect the interaction between lipid bilayers through a mechanism that involves van der Waals forces, electrostatics, hydration forces and membrane bending rigidity. This letter shows an additional peculiar effect of buffers on the mixed chain 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) lipid bilayers, namely phase coexistence similar to what was reported by Rappolt et al. for alkali chlorides. The data presented suggest that one phase appears to dehydrate below the value in pure water, while the other phase swells as the concentration of buffer is increased. However, since the two phases must be in osmotic equilibrium with one another, this behavior challenges theoretical models of lipid interactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis , LD 154, 402 North Blackford Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, United States.
authors.forename: Merrell A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Soenke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seifert
authors.forename: Horia I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Petrache
authors.forename: Ann C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Kimble-Hill
mesh_terms: D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; C028694:1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine
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