Optical Properties of Oxidized Cholesterol Bilayer Lipid Membranes |
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| Authors: | Wen-Long Jian Tadashi Akahane Toshiharu Tako |
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| Affiliation: | Research Laboratory of Precision Machinery and Electronics, Tokyo Institute of Technology , Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 227, Japan |
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| Abstract: | Bilayer Lipid Membranes (BLM) formed from oxidized cholesterol in the aqueous phase were prepared to investigate their optical characteristics. As an optical model of BLM, we adopted a uniaxial layer model where the optical axis is perpendicular to the membrane surface. The refractive indices were measured precisely by means of the ellipsometry, and in consequence, in the temperature range from 10°C to 40°C, the ordinary and extraordinary refractive indices for 633 nm decreased from 1.471 to 1.458 and 1.490 to 1.471, respectively, Its positive birefringence also decreased according to temperature. The thickness was also measured, and the value of 7.1 ± 0.9 nm at 30°C was obtained. |
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