Study of the surface activity of alkylated lactones and their interaction in cell membrane models

Abstract

In this project, we intend to study the surface activity of alkylated lactones with potential biological activity, as well as to insert them into Langmuir films of phospholipids, which serve as simple models of cell membrane. The phospholipids to be used will be dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine (DPPE), co-mixed with the bioactive. The surface activity of the compound as well as its interaction with the phospholipid monolayers will be evaluated by measurements of surface pressure and potential, Brewster angle microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and surface rheology. The results will be evaluated from the perspective of possible biological implications, inferred from the effects caused by the bioactive on the artificial membranes.