1-Palmitoyl-2-Oleoyl-sn-Glycero-3-Phosphoethanolamine (POPE)

The thermal response of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine ( POPE) by comparing the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) data of liposomes with atomic force microscopy (AFM) observations on supported planar bilayers. Planar bilayers were obtained by using the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique: the first leaflet transferred at 30 mN m(-1) and the second at 25 mN m(-1). The topographic evaluation of supported POPE bilayers above room temperature showed changes between 43.8 and 59.8 degrees C. These observations are discussed in relation to the main roughness (Ra) variations and are interpreted as the result of the lamellar liquid crystalline (Lalpha) to inverted hexagonal (HII) phase transition. Force spectroscopy (FS) was subsequently applied to gain further structural and nanomechanical insight into the POPE planar bilayers as a function of temperature.