Effects of Calcium Ions on Thermodynamic Properties of Mixed Bilirubin/Cholesterol Monolayers

The mixed monolayer behavior of bilirubin/cholesterol was studied through surface pressure-area （π-A） isotherms on aqueous solutions containing various concentrations of calcium ions. Based on the data of π-A isotherms, the mean area per molecule, collapse pressure, surface compressibility modulus, excess molecular areas, free energy of mixing, and excess free energy of mixing of the monolayers on different subphases were calculated. The results show an expansion in the structure of the mixed monolayer with Ca^2＋ in subphase, and non-ideal mixing of the components at the air/water interface is observed with positive deviation from the additivity rule in the excess molecular areas. The miscibility between the components is weakened with the increase of concentration of Ca^2＋ in subphase. The facts indicate the presence of coordination between Ca^2＋ and the two components. The mixed monolayer, in which the molar ratio of bilirubin to cholesterol is 3：2, is more stable from a thermodynamic point of view on pure water. But the stable 3：2 stoichiometry complex is destroyed with the increase of the concentration of Ca^2＋ in subphase. Otherwise, the mixed monolayers have more thermodynamic stability at lower surface pressure on Ca^2＋ subphase.

The Dependence of the Miscibility, Stability and Compressibility of L-<i>α</i>Dioleoylphosphatidylcholine/Rutin Laurate Monolayer at the Air/Water on Temperature

The miscibility, stability and compressibility of L-α dioleoylphosphatidylcholine/rutin laurate mixed monolayer at the air/water were investigated by Langmuir film balance to reveal the characteristic of the molecular interaction. The two components of DOPC/RL mixed monolayer were miscible throughout the mixture composition range and at three experimental temperatures of 10°C, 25°C and 37°C. At all experimental conditions, RL increased the compressibility and elasticity of the DOPC monolayer. Both the temperature and the composition of the membrane affected the form of intermolecular forces in the mixed monolayer.

Mediating Mesenchymal Stem Cells Responses and Osteopontin Adsorption via Oligo(ethylene glycol)-amino Mixed Self-assembled Monolayers

Oligo（ethylene glycol） （-OEG） and amino （-NH2） mixed self-assembled monolayers （SAMs） were employed as model substrates to investigate the effect of charge density on the fate of mesenchymal stem cells （MSCs） and osteopontin （OPN） adsorption. We found that all surfaces presenting -NH2 groups favored cell responses regardless of the surface charge. Meanwhile, OPN adsorption could remain stable on the mixed SAMs over a certain range of charge densities. Our work provides some insights into cell responses and protein adsorption to surface charge.

MorphologicaObservation of Specific Condensation Effect of Cholesterol on Dipalmitoyl Phosphatidyl Choline (DPPC) Monolayer by Dropping Method

Morphology of dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline (DPPC)-cholesterol (Chol) mixed monolayer formed on water surface by dropping method was investigated using surface tension measurement (STm), Brewster angle microscopy (BAM), and fluorescence microscopy (FM). STm showed strong condensation effect of Chol in fluidic DPPC monolayer. Excess area (Sex) from mean mixing state of DPPC and Chol was about twice larger than that by general compression method in the range from xC = 0.2 to 0.4 (xC: mole fraction of Chol). BAM and FM images showed clearly that the fluidic DPPC monolayer changed to condensed rigid monolayer due to the condensation effect of Chol. At more than xC = 0.3 DPPC-Chol mixed monolayer changed to condensed state similar to the Chol monolayer. These results support previous reports by compression method that Chol molecule demonstrates the strong condensation effect to the fluidic monolayer and also indicate that dropping method enables to form unique monolayer on the water surface.