ARS | Publication request: Interaction of an ionic liquid with a supported phospholipid bilayer is lipid-dependent

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: February 6, 2008
Publication Date: February 6, 2008
Citation: Evans, K.O. 2008. Interaction of an ionic liquid with a supported phospholipid bilayer is lipid-dependent. Biophysical Society. Poster #1168.

Technical Abstract: Liquid salts, commonly called ionic liquids, are used as solvents to conduct transformation of vegetable oils into new products. These reactions are often catalyzed via immobilized enzymes. However, some enzymes were found to lose activity and are in need of some protection. Phospholipid bilayers may serve as this protective agent. Unfortunately, there is little to literature that explores interaction of ionic liquids with phospholipid bilayers. The presented work forces on characterizing how ionic liquids interact with supported phospholipid bilayers using atomic force microscopy. Data show that the interaction between a liquid salt and a supported phospholipid bilayer depends on the lipid composition of the supported phospholipid bilayer. When phosphatidylcholine (PC) is the only lipid present, the bilayer became “roughened”. When there were negatively-charged lipids (phosphatidic acid – PA or phosphatidylglycerol – PG) present, round protrusions formed with frequency of protrusions found as PA>PG. However, when the lipid phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) was present, distinct patches formed. In all cases, the bilayer surrounding the protrusions or patches was unperturbed by the ionic liquids.