|
Summary of Research Projects (Supports in 2003
Fiscal Year)
| Subjects |
Semi-microscopic scale self-organization of soft condensed matters |
| Representative researcher |
Kyoto University Hideki SETO |
| Joint researcher |
Hiroshima University Norifumi YAMADA |
| Kyoto University Mafumi HISHIDA |
| Kyoto University Tonau NAKAI |
| Kyoto University Takao OHTA |
| A characteristic feature of soft condensed
matters is its hierarchical structures from microscopic scale (order
of angstrom) to macroscopic scale (order of micrometer). Lipid molecules
are known to form a bilayer structure with hydrophobic tails inside,
and normally, they self-assemble as multi-lamellar structure. However,
in biological bodies, they spontaneously aggregate as macroscopic scale
liposomes, which is called uni-lamellar vesicles, depending on their
functions such as living cells, nucleuses, mitochondrias, and so on.
In order to understand the origin of the liposome formation, we investigated
structures of lipids and amphiphilic molecules under various conditions
by means of small-angle x-ray and neutron scattering, neutron spin echo,
optical microscope, and atomic force microscopy. The results indicated
that the cooperation of membrane fluctuation and electoronic repulsion
or osmotic pressure induces the unbinding transition, i. e., a inter-membrane
distance diverges to infinity. |
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