Transport of chloride and carboxyfluorescein through phospholipid vesicle membranes by heptapeptide amphiphiles

Seven synthetic anion transporters (SAT) of the general form R(2)N-COCH(2)OCH(2)CO-(Gly)(3)-Pro-(Gly)(3)-OR' were prepared. Three pairs of compounds each contained twin n-hexyl, n-decyl, and n-octadecyl (R) groups at the N-terminus and one contained twin n-tetradecyl groups. Three of the compounds were C-terminated by benzyl and three by heptyl (R') residues. The ability of these compounds to mediate ion release from phospholipid vesicles was assessed. Chloride release was measured by ion selective electrode measurements and by chloride quenching of the fluorescent dye lucigenin. Transport of the anion carboxyfluorescein (CF) was measured by fluorescence dequenching. Differences in both the C- (R') and N-terminal (R) residues within the ionophores affected anion transport. The chloride release data acquired by ion selective electrode and fluorescence methods were similar but not identical. A possible carrier mechanism for Cl(-) transport was discredited. Both Cl(-) and CF anions were released from vesicles by these compounds. The results of CF and Cl(-) transport showed good consistency when the ionophore's N-terminal chains were either decyl or octadecyl but not when they were hexyl. The transport of CF and Cl(-) appears to be fundamentally different when R is C(6) compared to C(10) or C(18). Differences between the behavior of SATs with Cl(-) and CF were also reflected in negative ion mass spectrometric studies.     

Photochemically induced disturbance of the alkyl chain packing in vesicular membranes

In previous reports, we presented the synthesis and properties of double-tailed azobenzene-substituted phosphate amphiphiles (Kuiper et al. Synthesis 2003, 695 and Kuiper et al. Langmuir 2004, 20, 1152). We also reported that an ion channel can be regulated by trans-cis isomerization of these amphiphiles, which were incorporated in the membrane (Folgering et al. Langmuir 2004, 20, 6985). In the present study, the effect of trans-cis isomerization of both single- and double-tailed azobenzene-substituted amphiphiles on the aggregation and packing behavior has been studied. The phase transition temperature of a membrane and the thermal half-life times of the cis azobenzene-substituted amphiphiles in membranes have been measured. Furthermore, the synthesis and properties of single-tailed azobenzene-substituted phosphate amphiphiles are described and compared with those of the double-tailed analogues. The single-tailed azobenzene-substituted phosphates have a low solubility in water and form micelles, sheets, and crystals. In all cases the trans-cis isomerization leads to a disturbance of the chain packing. Both single- and double-tailed cis azobenzene-substituted phosphates lowered the main phase transition temperature of bilayer membranes. The effect increased when the azobenzene moiety was situated closer to the head group. Accordingly, the half-life times of the cis azobenzene group was shorter when the azobenzene group was positioned closer to the head group for both the single- and double-tailed amphiphiles. Interestingly, the thermal cis-trans isomerization of the single-tailed azobenzene-substituted phosphates was faster in a DOPC membrane than that for the free monomer in aqueous solution.     

合成双分子膜的研究I. 单链1, 5取代萘刚性生色基的双亲化合物的合成及其在稀溶液中的自组织规律

本文首次报道了系列单链、1, 5取代萘刚性生色基团的两亲化合物C~nNaph(1,5)C~6N^+(n=16, 12, 10, 8, 6和4)的合成。用电镜、1^H NMR和DSC分别观察了该系列化合物在稀溶液中的聚集形态、聚集体内分子运动和物相变化。结果表明: 当n≥8时, 该系列双亲化合物在稀溶液中自组织成双层结构的囊泡, 泡壁为双分子膜。n=6时, 囊泡形状不完整。n=4时, 聚集体无确定形态。     

Nanoparticles via H-aggregation of amphiphilic BODIPY dyes

We have synthesized wedge-shaped BODIPY dyes with hydrophilic chains and studied their aggregational behavior in THF-containing water by UV-vis and photoluminescence spectroscopies, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering. One of these dyes showed an aggregate derived from H-dimers and forms a high density nanoparticle in THF-containing water solution.     

Stabilization of vesicular and supported membranes by glycolipid oxime polymers

We report herein new synthetic glycolipid dimers and polymers that provide unprecedented stability to both supported (SLBs) and vesicular lipid bilayers against dehydration and serum exposure. These novel physical properties will enable pharmaceutical delivery and development of SLB bioanalytical devices.     

Ionic liquid-controlled J- versus H-aggregation of cyanine dyes

Cyanine dyes are triggered to form fluorescent H-aggregates in IL [C(n)mim][BF(4)], whereas J-aggregates are observed to form in ILs with other anions as 2 wt% 1 M aqueous NaOH is added at room temperature; difference in hydrolytic properties of [BF(4)](-) ILs over other ILs is hypothesized to be the reason.     

Effects of incorporation of various amphiphiles into recipient liposome membranes on inter-membrane protein transfer.

To obtain information about the factors governing spontaneous inter-membrane protein transfer, we examined the effects of incorporation of various amphiphilic compounds in dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) liposomes on protein transfer from influenza virus-infected cells to the liposomes, and analyzed the physical properties of these liposome membranes. The incorporation of amphiphilic compounds, negatively charged dicetylphosphate (DCP), dipalmitoylphosphatidylserine (DPPS) or positively charged dimethyldipalmitoylammonium (DMDPA), into DMPC liposomal membranes enhanced protein transfer. The liposomes containing DCP, DPPS or DMDPA were unaffected by osmotic shock caused by external addition of glucose, suggesting a decrease in lipid packing in the liposomal membranes. Furthermore, calorimetric study of these liposomes showed that a phase separation occurred partially in the liposomal membranes. Accordingly, the membranes of DMPC liposomes containing DCP, DPPS and DMDPA should be distorted due to the coexistence of two phases, gel and liquid crystalline, in the membranes. Consequently, the membrane distortion could be responsible for the enhancement effects of the amphiphiles on the inter-membrane protein transfer from influenza virus-infected cells to the liposomes.     

Effects of amphiphile topology on the aggregation of oligocholates in lipid membranes: macrocyclic versus linear amphiphiles

A macrocyclic and a linear trimer of a facially amphiphilic cholate building block were labeled with a fluorescent dansyl group. The environmentally sensitive fluorophore enabled the aggregation of the two oligocholates in lipid membranes to be studied by fluorescence spectroscopy. Concentration-dependent emission wavelength and intensity revealed a higher concentration of water for the cyclic compound. Both compounds were shown by the red-edge excitation shift (REES) to be located near the membrane/water interface at low concentrations, but the cyclic trimer was better able to migrate into the hydrophobic core of the membrane than the linear trimer. Fluorescent quenching by a water-soluble (NaI) and a lipid-soluble (TEMPO) quencher indicated that the cyclic trimer penetrated into the hydrophobic region of the membrane more readily than the linear trimer, which preferred to stay close to the membrane surface. The fluorescent data corroborated with the previous leakage assays that suggested the stacking of the macrocyclic cholate trimer into transmembrane nanopores, driven by the strong associative interactions of water molecules inside the macrocycles in a nonpolar environment.     

Synthesis and characterization of hexa-tailed cryptand based amphiphiles: spontaneous formation of giant vesicular microcapsule with efficient and long-term dye encapsulation

A cryptand with six secondary amino groups has been derivatized by reacting with acid chlorides of different chain lengths (C(7), C(10) and C(18)) to get three cryptand based hexa-tailed neutral amphiphiles (L(1)-L(3)). The cavity of the cryptand head group accommodates two Cu(II) ion giving another set of three amphiphiles. These amphiphiles and its copper complexes can aggregate spontaneously as giant vesicular microcapsules in 10% ethanolic water medium. In all cases vesicles formed are mostly unilamellar in nature. Vesicular microcapsules prepared from L(1)-L(3) can encapsulate hydrophilic dye 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (CF). Stability of microcapsules, CF encapsulation efficiencies and release rates were dependent on the hydrophobic chain length of the amphiphiles. Results show the permeability of the L(2) and L(3) bilayer is lower than that of phosphatidylcholine vesicles and the loading capacity is approximately 3 times greater. Microcapsules have been characterized by optical microscopy, freeze fracture scanning electron microscopy and confocal fluorescence microscopy.     

Micellization of fluorinated amphiphiles

New cationic fluorinated surfactants and new types of fluorinated surfactants having fluorocarbon–hydrocarbon hybrids, dimeric and polymeric structure have been synthesized recently. Their synthesis requires many steps and consequently requires much time and high expense. Since the fluorinated surfactants have unusual molecular aggregation properties, ¹⁹F-NMR, novel fluorescence probes and cryo-transmission electron microscope techniques have been applied to study their aggregation behaviour in aqueous systems. Their unique characteristics are summarized as follows: (1) the dissolution process from solid state to dissolved aggregate state requires a very long time for the long chain fluorinated surfactants under thermodynamic equilibrium. The equilibration time can be reduced at higher temperatures; (2) interfacial properties and critical micelle concentration (CMC) are influenced by the nature of the hydrophobic terminal groups (CF₃− or HCF₂−); (3) the fluorocarbon functionality can make it possible even for single-chain amphiphiles to form vesicles or lamellar structures; (4) the hybrid surfactant made of both hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon chains showed a life time of 2.0×10⁻³ s for the exchange rate between the monomeric and the micellar states at the CMC and moreover, these detergents can cosolubilize fluorocarbon–hydrocarbon mixed solubilizates.     

Self-assembly of bipolar amphiphiles

Over the past 2 years, various symmetrical and unsymmetrical bipolar amphiphiles (bolaamphiphiles) have been synthesized to study their self-organizing and packing properties alone as well as in mixtures with conventional amphiphiles. This review focuses on the lyotropic properties of these bolaamphiphiles and describes their in some cases quite unusual supramolecular self-assembling properties in aqueous media and at the air–water and liquid–solid interface.     

Vesicle fission of giant unilamellar vesicles of liquid-ordered-phase membranes induced by amphiphiles with a single long hydrocarbon chain

Vesicle fissions are very important processes of biomembranes in cells, but their mechanisms are not clear and are controversial. Using the single giant unilamellar vesicle (GUV) method, we recently found that low concentrations (less than the critical micelle concentration (CMC)) of lysophosphatidylcholine (lyso-PC) induced the vesicle fission of GUVs of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine/cholesterol(6/4) (DPPC/chol(6/4)) membranes and sphingomyelin/cholesterol membranes (6/4) in the liquid-ordered (lo) phase. In this report, to elucidate its mechanism, we have investigated the effect of low concentrations (much less than their CMC) of other amphiphiles with a single long hydrocarbon chain (i.e., single long chain amphiphiles) on DPPC/chol(6/4) GUVs as well as the effect of the membrane composition on the lyso-PC-induced vesicle fission. We found that low concentrations of single long chain amphiphiles (lyosophosphatidic acid, octylglucoside, and sodium dodecyl sulfate) induced the shape change from a prolate to two spheres connected by a very narrow neck, indicating that the single long chain amphiphiles can be partitioned into the external monolayer in the lo phase of the GUV from the aqueous solution. As the single long chain amphiphile concentrations were increased, all of them induced vesicle fission of DPPC/chol(6/4) GUVs above their threshold concentrations. To elucidate the role of cholesterol in the single long chain amphiphile-induced vesicle fission, we investigated the effect of lyso-PC on GUVs of dioleoyl-PC (DOPC)/chol(6/4) membranes in the Lalpha phase; no vesicle fission occurred, indicating that cholesterol in itself did not play an important role in the vesicle fission. Finally, to elucidate the effect of the inclusion of DOPC in the lo-phase membrane of GUVs on the lyso-PC-induced vesicle fission of the DPPC/chol(6/4) GUV, we investigated the effect of low concentrations of lyso-PC on GUVs of DPPC/DOPC/chol membranes. With an increase in DOPC concentration in the membrane, the threshold concentration of lyso-PC increased. At and above 30 mol % DOPC, no vesicle fission occurred. On the basis of these results, we have proposed a hypothesis of the mechanism of the single long chain amphiphile-induced vesicle fission of a GUV of a lo-phase membrane.     

Lipase polystyrene giant amphiphiles

A new type of giant amphiphilic molecule has been synthesized by covalently connecting a lipase enzyme headgroup to a maleimide-functionalized polystyrene tail (40 repeat units). The resulting biohybrid forms catalytic micellar rods in water.     

Hierarchical self-assembly of noncovalent amphiphiles

Amphiphiles defined by noncovalent inclusion complexes between an alkylated beta-cyclodextrin and PEG-conjugated guests assemble into higher-ordered structures whose thermodynamic stability reflects that of the defining intermolecular interactions.     

Self-organized lipid-porphyrin bilayer membranes in vesicular form: nanostructure,photophysical properties,and dioxygen coordination

An amphiphilic tetraphenylporphyrin and its iron complex bearing four phospholipid substituents, in which a trimethylolethane residue connects the two acyl chains (lipid-porphyrins), have been synthesized. The free-base lipid-porphyrin 6a self-organizes in aqueous media to form spherical unilamellar vesicles with a diameter of 100 nm and a uniform thickness of 10 nm, which corresponds to twice the length of the molecule. In the visible absorption spectrum, the porphyrin Soret band was significantly red-shifted (12 nm) relative to that of the monomer in benzene/MeOH solution due to the excitonic interaction of the porphyrin chromophores. The [symbol: see text]-A isotherm of 6a gave an area per molecule of 2.2 nm2, which allowed the estimation of the number of molecules in a single vesicle (2.3 x 10(4)). Double-layered Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of 6a on a glass surface exhibited an absorption spectrum identical to that of the 6a vesicles in bulk aqueous solution, and this suggests that they contain similar geometric arrangements of the porphyrin moieties. Exciton calculations on the basis of our structural model reproduced the bathochromic shift of the Soret band well. In the photophysical properties of the 6a vesicles, the characteristics of J-aggregated porphyrins substantially predominate: strong fluorescence and extremely short triplet lifetime. The iron complex 6b with a small molar excess of 1-dodecylimidazole (DIm) also formed spherical unilamellar vesicles (100 nm phi). Scanning force microscopy after evaporation on a graphite surface revealed 6b/DIm vesicles with a vertical height of 19.8 nm, which coincided with the thickness of the double bilayer membranes. The ferrous 6c formed a bis(DIm)-coordinated low-spin FeII complex under an N2 atmosphere. Upon addition of O2 to this solution, a kinetically stable O2 adduct was formed at 37 degrees C with a half-life of 17 h. Distinct gel-phase (liquid-crystal) transitions of the lipid-porphyrin membranes were clearly observed; the free base 6a displayed a higher transition temperature (56 degrees C) than the iron complex. Magnetic circular dichroism and infrared spectroscopic studies proved that molecular O2 coordinates to the self-organized lipid-porphyrinatoiron(II) vesicles in aqueous media.     

Thermotropic mesophases of ionic amphiphiles

In part I of this article the thermotropic mesophases of anhydrous ionic amphiphiles were discussed. In this part the thermotropic mesophases of ionic amphiphiles in aqueous media, as determined by thermal analysis, microscopic studies, X-ray diffraction and other techniques are reviewed. The fatty acids saturated or unsaturated that are found in the above molecules are: Lauric acid (C₁₂H₂₄O₂); myristic acid (C₁₄H₂₈O₂); palmitic acid (C₁₆H₃₂O₂); stearic acid (C₁₈H₃₆O₂); arachic acid (C₂₀H₄₀O₂); behenic acid (C₂₂H₄₄O₂); oleic acid (C₁₈H₃₄O₂).     

Surface tension of aqueous amphiphiles

Surface tension measurements show that at low concentrations a surfactant bearing two ester groups in its chain assembles into small aggregates or else rearranges at the air/water interface to occupy less area per molecule. Only at higher surfactant concentrations do bona fide micelles form. The air/water interface, it is argued, saturates abruptly and cooperatively (as does the aggregation into micelles at the higher concentrations) to give a "critical monolayer concentration". Yet saturation does not reduce the surface tension a great deal. The bulk of surface tension reduction is imparted by monomeric surfactant in the solution via a mechanism that is obscure but may be related in part to the mechanical perturbation of the saturated film during measurement.     

支化侧链偶氮聚电解质的合成和H-聚集

合成了一种新型支化侧链型偶氮聚电解质PMAPB₆P-AA.以偶氮生色团为探针,研究了这类聚电解质在混合溶剂中的H-聚集,以及H-聚集对偶氮生色团光响应性能的影响.研究发现,PMAPB₆P-AA在水体积分数大于11%的DMF/H₂O混合溶剂中形成H-聚集.偶氮苯离域电子的色散力是形成H-聚集的主要动力.与偶氮小分子MAPB₆和MAPB₆P相比,PMAPB₆P-AA表现出更强的H-聚集能力,表明疏水作用和聚合物链的束缚作用等也是影响偶氮苯基团H-聚集能力的重要因素.H-聚集对PMAPB₆P-AA光响应影响的明显特征是光响应速率减慢和光致顺反异构的效率降低.     

Analytical application of surface-affinity polymerized vesicular membranes to trace metal analysis by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

The affinity of anionic polymerized vesicular membranes for metal cations in aqueous solutions is explored in terms of metal ion extraction and preconcentration. The method is based on the coordination of metal ions on the surface of charged polymerized vesicles via intra-vesicular complexes. These are causing changes in the selectivity, reactivity and inter-vesicular bridges which facilitate the aggregation of polymerized vesicles promoting phase separation. An analytical demonstration is shown by the optimization of the experimental conditions that enable the determination of antimony (III) in natural waters. The analytical features of the method including detection limits, precision and analytical recoveries from spiked natural water samples suggest that polymerized vesicular membranes can be a promising alternative to surfactant-mediated extractions of metal ions from aqueous matrices.