The cell membrane is composed of various molecular components, including lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates, organized into a bilayer. The bilayer’s structure can interact with other small molecules which can in turn have an effect on the bilayer’s function as part of the membrane. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) is a highly sensitive technique to study the thermotropic properties of many different biological membranes. Phospholipid is generally the most abundant lipid type in animal cell membranes. In this research we use 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) liposomes as a model for cell membranes, and investigate the effects of various small molecules, with emphasis on drug molecules, on the thermodynamic properties of DOPC lipid bilayers using DSC. DSC determines the transition temperature for the gel to liquid-crystalline phase transition and associated enthalpies. We studied DSC behavior of hydrated phospholipid membranes in the presence and absence of different small molecules. Our results show that the type of effect on the phase transition profile depends on the nature of small molecules, whereas the extent of the effect depends on the concentration. Our finding shows the sensitivity and selectivity of DSC, revealing varying degrees of interactions of small molecules with DOPC bilayer.

Differential scanning calorimetric study of the effect of small molecules on the thermal behavior of phosphatidylcholine lipid bilayer

256th National Meeting (2018)

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