Stability of lyotropic phases with curved interfaces

摘要: The diverse structural forms of lipid-water phases are representative those found in many lyotropic and amphiphilic systems. These structures consist interfaces which divide the material into hydrophobic hydrophilic volumes. net result a very complex set intermolecular interactions is that behave as surfaces endowed with spontaneous curvature whose separations subject to constraints molecular lengths component densities. Phase transitions an abrupt change may be understood phenomenologically competition between elastic energy bending energies resulting from interfacial separation. application this approach reviewed for lamellar, hexagonally packed cylindrical, close-packed spherical, bicontinuous cubic diacyl biomembrane lipids. It shown dimensions phase lipid mesomorphs largely terms phenomenological model. existence associated monolayers bilayers implies biomembranes exist state compositionally controlled stress provide chemically nonspecific rationale types lipids cell membranes. A discussion given ofmore » evidence membrane proteins functionally sensitive stress. article concludes summary related outstanding problems.« less