Aggregation of egg-lecithin vesicles induced by iron(III) chloride

Aggregation behaviors of egg-lecithin vesicles were investigated, The crowd ed vesicle solution exhibited an irregular aggregation style in the presenc e of FeCl3, The process was composed of an induction period (2-5 days) and a sedimentation process (similar to 12 h), The vesicles were stabilized by the positively charged species such as [(H2O)(4)Fe(OH)(2) Fe(H2O)(4)](4+) i n the induction periods. However, after the stationary state, the vesicles began to coagulate due to the transformation of the iron species into the i nactive one. The existence of such time-lag for the aggregation to occur wa s mainly induced by the transient nature of iron(III) in the aqueous soluti on. (C) 1999 Academic Press.