Paper detail

The component groups structure of DPPC bilayers obtained by specular neutron reflectometry

Specular neutron reflectometry (SNR) was measured on a system of a floating bilayer consisting of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-d62-\textit{sn}-glycero-3-phosphocholine (d62-diC16:0PC) deposited over a 1,2-dibehenoyl-\textit{sn}-glycero-3-phosphocholine (diC22:0PC) bilayer at 25 and 55 °C. The internal structure of lipid bilayers was described by a one dimensional scattering length density profile (SLDP) model, originally developed for the evaluation of small angle scattering data. The corresponding model reflectivity curves successfully describe the experimental reflectivity curves of a supported bilayer in the gel phase and a system of a floating bilayer in the liquid crystalline phase. The reflectivity data from the supported bilayer were evaluated individually and served further as an input by the data treatment of floating bilayer reflectivity curves. The results yield internal structure of a deposited and floating bilayer on the level of component groups of lipid molecules. The obtained structure of the floating d62-diC16:0PC bilayer displays high resemblance to the bilayer structure in the form of unilamellar vesicles, however, simultaneously it shows rate of fluctuations in comparison to unilamellar vesicle bilayers.