The development of stable vesicular assemblies and understanding their interaction and dynamics in aqueous solution is a long standing topic in the research of chemistry and biology. Fatty acids are known to form vesicle structure in aqueous solution depending on the pH of the medium. Protic ionic liquid of fatty acid with ethyl amine (Oleate ethyl amine, OEA) as a component spontaneously form vesicle in aqueous solution. FLIM images of vesicles suggest that the membrane of the OEA vesicle is more dehydrated compared to that of fatty acid vesicles and it facilitates OEA vesicles to fuse themselves in presence of electrolyte, sodium chloride (NaCl). Besides, the fusion of the vesicles is aslo possible in presence of different imidazolium based ionic liquid (IL). The fusion of OEA vesicles in all the cases are successfully demonstrated by the Time Scan FLIM measurements. The distinct mechanism of the interaction between the ionic liquid and membrane coulld be correlated with the biological activities of ILs. Thus, tuning the membrane interaction of ILs can be an important factor for designigning the future environemnt friendly compounds.

Small molecule induced fusion of a model protocell membrane composed of fatty acids: A new insight into the membrane fusion monitored through fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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