Structural Characterization of Lecithin-Stabilized Tetracosane Lipid Nanoparticles. Part I: Emulsions

• Published in: The journal of physical chemistry. B Vol. 120; no. 24; pp. 5505 - 5512
• Main Authors: Schmiele, M, Busch, S, Morhenn, H, Schindler, T, Schmutzler, T, Schweins, R, Lindner, P, Boesecke, P, Westermann, M, Steiniger, F, Funari, Sérgio S, Unruh, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 23.06.2016
• ISSN: 1520-6106; 1520-5207
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.6b02519

The structure of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC)-stabilized colloidal tetracosane emulsions was investigated by photon correlation spectroscopy and small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering, using emulsions with different neutron scattering contrasts. Special emphasis was placed on the structure of the DMPC stabilizer layer covering the emulsion droplets. A monolayer, structurally similar to a half DMPC bilayer, with a thickness of 16 Å is found. Thereby, the phosphocholine headgroups arrange flat at the oil–water interface. A deep penetration of the tetracosane oil into the stabilizer layer can be ruled out.