Probing Thermotropic Phase Behavior of Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine Bilayers from Electrical and Topographic Data in a Horizontal Black Lipid Membrane Model

Abstract

Here, a homemade device allowed preparing horizontal lipid bilayer membranes (hBLMs) for recording electrical and topographical data simultaneously and in real-time, under temperature (T)-controlled conditions along a cooling process of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayers. Electrical parameters (ionic current intensity, I, and transmembrane resistance, R = ΔV/I) plotted against T exhibited discontinuities at the main transition (TPβ′→Lα ) and pretransition (TLβ→Pβ′ ) temperatures of DPPC. The T-dependent sensitivity to ΔV-induced electrostriction was revealed by capacitance measurements. The patterns of I fluctuation described long-range correlations reflected by 1/f-type noise in the ripple phase (Pβ′) and Brownian-type fluctuations in the liquid-crystalline (Lα) phase at voltage intensities lower than a voltage threshold (ΔVth = ±160 mV), indicating that autocorrelations arise from an underlying structural connectivity that takes place within ordered phases. At |V| ≥ Vth, the fluctuation dynamics exhibited a 1/f behavior over the whole temperature range analyzed, suggesting that upon a certain intensity of external electrical perturbation, the membrane system evolves toward a voltage-induced percolated-pore state. At T > TPβ′→Lα , differential interference contrast micrographs showed droplet-like structures, probably containing solvent traces of the lipid solution, which were reverted upon cooling. However, droplets did not interfere with the thermotropic equilibrium of the bilayer phase. This suggested that the temperature-induced changes in the electrical properties of the bilayer, as well as in the complexity of the fluctuation patterns (emergency of long- and short-range correlations), were strongly associated with the characteristic thermotropic behavior of DPPC, without significant deviations induced by the presence of residual n-decane in the bilayer. Our hBLM model membrane proved useful for correlating thermotropic phase changes with electro-biophysical and topographical information.