ELECTRIC BIREFRINGENCE OF SURFACTANT VESICLES

Transient electric birefringence is induced by single, high-voltage el ectric square pulses in isotropic aqueous suspensions of unilamellar b ilayer vesicles (liposomes) prepared from the surfactants egg L-alpha- phosphatidylcholine (EPC) or dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC). Preli minary results for DOPC vesicles are presented on the effects of conce ntration, temperature, and electric field strength on the steady-state induced optical retardation delta(o). Within the ranges investigated, the positive delta(o) is relatively insensitive to change in temperat ure, but depends on the other variables. Possible mechanisms of the in duction of birefringence are discussed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.