Dopant-Mediated Interactions in a Lecithin Lamellar Phase

Abstract

Interactions induced by dopants in a lamellar phase constructed from the lecithin and water are analyzed by the small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) technique. From SAXS patterns, scattering peak or curve shape changes disclose information on phase structure as well as the interactions between dopant and host matrices. At a certain concentration, two amphiphilic tri-block copolymers (Pluronic P123 and F127) as dopants squeeze themselves into the lecithin bilayers with PPO hydrophobic blocks and produce various effects on the lamellar phase depending on the length of PEO hydrophilic groups. Coexistence of two different lamellar phases is observed in P123-doped systems.

Keywords:

• Dopant
• lamellar
• lecithin
• small angle x-ray scattering

We are grateful for the support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (20373035, 20573066), Shandong Provincial Science Fund (Y2005B18), and the Doctoral Research Fund of University of Jinan (B0526).