First quantitative assessment of the adsorption of a fluorocarbon gas on phospholipid monolayers at the air/water interface

Fluorocarbon gases introduced above monolayers of phospholipids at the air/water interface were recently found to promote adsorption diverse molecular compounds, with potential application in drug-loaded microbubble design. Quantitative determination fluorocarbon present is strongly needed for development such applications. We hypothesized that neutron reflectometry (NR) and ellipsometry experiments would allow quantification trapped monolayers. report first quantitative extents perfluorohexane (F-hexane) on different phospholipid respect both their phase isotopic form. To this aim, we applied an approach based co-modeling data obtained from NR ellipsometry. F-hexane adsorbs dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) when they are liquid expanded (LE) condensed (LC) phases, but according form phospholipid. Kinetic resolution interfacial composition contrasts (assuming chemical identicality) was therefore not possible using alone, so alternative NR/ellipsometry treatment each contrast. more abundantly hydrogenous DPPC than chain-deuterated LE phase, whilst opposite observed LC phase. The dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC, phase) distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC, concurs strong dependence those monolayer This new methodology can lead advances novel characterization fluorocarbons interacting relevance applications as shells fluorocarbon-stabilized medically-oriented microbubbles.