Critical self-association of bile lipids studied by infrared spectroscopy and viscometry.

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR)-attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectroscopy and viscometry were applied to study the micellization of two bile lipids, sodium taurochenodeoxycholate (NaTCDC) and sodium glycocholate (NaGC), in aqueous solutions. The CH2 stretching bands of the bile lipid hydrocarbon region were shifted to higher frequencies suggesting initial critical micellization at 2.5 mM for NaTCDC and 9 mM for NaGC. An abrupt enhancement of the absorption intensity of the CH3 groups of the sterol rings in bile lipids were under conformational strain at 3.5 mM NaTCDC and 9 mM NaGC. Viscometry measurements showed abrupt changes in viscosities in the region of critical micellar concentration (CMC) of both bile lipids. Both infrared and viscometry studies confirmed the onset of conformational strains in tightly packed lipid micelles at their CMC. In addition, FTIR/ATR spectroscopy has defined the specific hydrophobic interactions which bring about critical micellization of bile lipids.