PHOTOINDUCED FORMATION OF BILAYER VESICLES

A photochemical reaction, which generates surfactant molecules which t hen spontaneously assemble into vesicles, is described. Upon irradiati on of a dispersion of the photocleavable water-insoluble precursor did ecyl-2-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl phosphate, the phosphate-phenolate bond w as selectively hydrolyzed and didecyl phosphate was released in the me dium. Light microscopy was used to assess the presence of vesicles, wh ich were generally in the range of 1-10 mu m This light-induced format ion of vesicles is of general interest in the field of liposomes techn ology and may be seen as an additional contribution to the prebiotic c hemistry of compartimented bilayer formation.