RETINYL PALMITATE IN WATER ENVIRONMENT

The interaction between retinyl palmitate molecules and their environm ent in binary water-p-dioxane solvent (at different molar ratios of wa ter to p-dioxane) was studied. The absorption, fluorescence emission a nd fluorescence excitation spectra were analysed. In this binary solve nt, the interaction between retinyl palmitate molecules and environmen ts of different polarity leads to the self-organization of retinyl pal mitate. The possible consequences of the existence of self-organized s tructures for retinoid transport through the water phase are discussed . (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.