Dielectric relaxation change of water upon phase transition of a lipid bilayer probed by terahertz time domain spectroscopy

J Chem Phys. 2012 Nov 7;137(17):175101. doi: 10.1063/1.4764304.

Abstract

We investigate the influence of the 1, 2-ditetradecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine lipid bilayer phases on the water reorientation dynamics with terahertz time domain spectroscopy. The phase of the lipids was controlled by the temperature in the range of 14-35 °C. During the gel-to-fluid phase transition, the hydration water ratio drastically changed from 0.3 to 0.6. The absorption coefficient of the hydration water increased with the temperature in the gel phase and then decreased in the fluid phase. The dielectric relaxation time of the lipid solution decreased initially but then increased after the phase transition. This indicates that the hydration water reorientation dynamics are restricted by lipids and that this phenomenon is pronounced in a biologically relevant fluid phase.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine / chemistry
  • Electric Impedance
  • Lipid Bilayers / chemistry*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Phase Transition*
  • Spectrum Analysis*
  • Temperature
  • Water / chemistry*

Substances

  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Water
  • Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine