Bending modulus of lipid bilayers in a liquid-crystalline phase including an anomalous swelling regime estimated by neutron spin echo experiments.

ABSTRACT

Membrane fluctuations of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) were investigated by neutron spin echo spectroscopy. The intermediate structure factor was analyzed in terms of the model proposed by Zilman and Granek (Phys. Rev. Lett. 77, 4788 (1996)), and the bending modulus of lipid bilayers was derived. The hardening of a lipid bilayer upon approaching the main transition point in the anomalous swelling regime was observed, which naturally connects the bending modulus in the gel phase below the main transition temperature.