Giant planar lipid bilayer

Collective Diffraction Effects in Perovskite Nanocrystal Superlattices

ConspectusFor almost a decade now, lead halide perovskite nanocrystals have been the subject of a steadily growing number of publications, most of them regarding CsPbBr₃ nanocubes. Many of these works report X-ray diffraction patterns where the first Bragg peak has an unusual shape, as if it was composed of two or more overlapping peaks. However, these peaks are too narrow to stem from a nanoparticle, and the perovskite crystal structure does not account for their formation. What is the origin of such an unusual profile, and why has it been overlooked so far? Our attempts to answer these questions led us to revisit an intriguing collective diffraction phenomenon, known for multilayer epitaxial thin films but not reported for colloidal nanocrystals before. By analogy, we call it the multilayer diffraction effect.Multilayer diffraction can be observed when a diffraction experiment is performed on nanocrystals packed with a periodic arrangement. Owing to the periodicity of the packing, the X-rays scattered by each particle interfere with those diffracted by its neighbors, creating fringes of constructive interference. Since the interfering radiation comes from nanoparticles, fringes are visible only where the particles themselves produce a signal in their diffraction pattern: for nanocrystals, this means at their Bragg peaks. Being a collective interference phenomenon, multilayer diffraction is strongly affected by the degree of order in the nanocrystal aggregate. For it to be observed, the majority of nanocrystals within the sample must abide to the stacking periodicity with minimal misplacements, a condition that is typically satisfied in self-assembled nanocrystal superlattices or stacks of colloidal nanoplatelets.A qualitative understanding of multilayer diffraction might explain why the first Bragg peak of CsPbBr₃ nanocubes sometimes appears split, but leaves many other questions unanswered. For example, why is the split observed only at the first Bragg peak but not at the second? Why is it observed routinely in a variety of CsPbBr₃ nanocrystals samples and not just in highly ordered superlattices? How does the morphology of particles (i.e., nanocrystals vs nanoplatelets) affect the appearance of multilayer diffraction effects? Finally, why is multilayer diffraction not observed in other popular nanocrystals such as Au and CdSe, despite the extensive investigations of their superlattices?Answering these questions requires a deeper understanding of multilayer diffraction. In what follows, we summarize our progress in rationalizing the origin of this phenomenon, at first through empirical observation and then by adapting the diffraction theory developed in the past for multilayer thin films, until we achieved a quantitative fitting of experimental diffraction patterns over extended angular ranges. By introducing the reader to the key advancements in our research, we provide answers to the questions above, we discuss what information can be extracted from patterns exhibiting collective interference effects, and we show how multilayer diffraction can provide insights into colloidal nanomaterials where other techniques struggle. Finally, with the help of literature patterns showing multilayer diffraction and simulations performed by us, we demonstrate that this collective diffraction effect is within reach for many appealing nanomaterials other than halide perovskites.

A combined TEM and SAXS study of the growth and self-assembly of ultrathin Pt nanowires

Ultrathin Pt nanowires possess high activity for various electrocatalytic applications. However, little work has focused on understanding their growth mechanisms. Herein, we utilize a combination of time-dependent,ex situtransmission electron microscopy (TEM) and small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) techniques to observe the growth process in addition to associated surfactant-based interactions. TEM images indicate that initially nanoparticles are formed within 30 s; these small 'seed' particles quickly elongate to form ultrathin nanowires after 2 min. These motifs remain relatively unchanged in size and shape up to 480 min of reaction. Complementary SAXS data suggests that the initial nanoparticles, which are coated by a surfactant bilayer, arrange into abccsuperlattice. With increasing reaction time, thebcclattice disappears as the nanoparticles grow into nanowires, which then self-assemble into a columnar hexagonal structure in which the individual nanowires are covered by a CTAB monolayer. The hexagonal structure eventually degrades, thereby leading to the formation of lamellar stacking phases comprised of surfactant bilayers. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that SAXS has been used to monitor the growth and self-assembly of Pt nanowires. These insights can be used to better understand and rationally control the formation of anisotropic motifs of other metallic nanostructures.

Halothane solvation in water and organic solvents from molecular simulations with new polarizable potential function

The partitioning of a substrate from one phase into another is a complex process with widespread applications: from chemical technology to the pharmaceutical industry. One particularly well-known and well-studied example is 2-bromo-2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane (halothane) trafficking through the lipid bilayer. Halothane is a model volatile anesthetic known to impact functions of model lipid bilayers, altering the structure and thickness upon its partitioning from the bulk phase. A number of theoretical and experimental investigations suggest the importance of electronic polarizability, determining a preference for halothane to partition in the interfacial systems as in lipid bilayers or binary solvents. The recently published protocol for the development of polarizable force fields based on the classical Drude model has provided fresh impetus to efforts directed at understanding the molecular principles governing complex thermodynamics of the hydrophobic hydration. Here, molecular simulations were combined with free energy simulations to study solvation of halothane in polarizable water and methanol. The absolute free energy of halothane solvation in different solvents (water, methanol, and n-hexane) has been evaluated for additive and polarizable models. It was found that both additive and polarizable models provide an adequate description of the halothane solvation in high-dielectric (polar) solvents such as water, but explicit accounting for electronic polarization is imperative for a correct description of the solvation thermodynamics in nonpolar systems. To study halothane dynamics in binary mixtures, all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for halothane-methanol mixtures in a wide range of concentrations were performed alongside an analysis of structural organization, dynamics, and thermodynamic properties to dissect the molecular determinants of the halothane solvation in polar and amphiphilic liquids such as methanol. Additionally, a theoretical test of the hypothesis on the weak hydrogen bonding of halothane and methanol in the condensed phase is provided, which was presented on the basis of spectroscopic analysis of the C-H vibrations in different gas-phase complexes. The simulations performed in the condensed phase suggest that hydrophobic interactions between halothane and methanol play a dominant role in preferential solvation.

Action mechanism of water soluble ethanol on phospholipid monolayers using a quartz crystal oscillator

Interaction between phospholipid monolayers (dihexadecyl phosphate: DHP, dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline: DPPC) and water soluble ethanol has been studied using quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) method and quartz crystal impedance (QCI) method. The quartz crystal oscillator was attached horizontally on the DHP and DPPC monolayers that were formed on the water surface. At low concentration, increased ethanol concentration decreased the frequency for QCM and increased the resistance for QCI. Both frequency and resistance approached asymptotically to a saturation value. A further increase in ethanol concentration induced a sudden and discontinuous linear change (a decrease in frequency and an increase in resistance). Based on these results, we propose the following action mechanism of ethanol on phospholipid monolayers: at low concentration, the ethanol hydrates adsorb into the monolayer/water interface and saturate on the interface. The monolayer viscosity also increases with the adsorption of hydrates. A further increase in concentration causes multilayer formation of hydrates and/or penetration of hydrates into the monolayer core. The viscosity of the interfacial layer (monolayer and interfacial structured water) changes dramatically according to the action of ethanol hydrates.

Binding of volatile anesthetics to purple membranes studied by X-ray diffraction

Volatile anesthetics, diiodomethane and trifluoroethyl iodide, acted on the purple membrane of Halobacterium halobium in two different modes depending on the concentration. At low concentration, the absorption maximum of bacteriorhodopsin shifted from 561 to 558 nm (BR558) and the M-intermediate of the photocycle decayed faster than the native one. Higher concentration induced a species absorbing maximally at 480 nm (BR480) and the long-lived M-intermediates. The X-ray study suggested that anesthetics bound specifically to the protein-lipid interfacial region within a trimer near the surface of membrane in BR558 and entered into the hydrophobic domain of the membrane in BR480.

Electrokinetic charge of the anesthetic-induced bR480 and bR380 spectral forms of bacteriorhodopsin

The translational and rotational electrokinetics of the anesthetic-induced spectral transitions bR568-->bR480-->bR380 of bacteriorhodopsin have been investigated. Formation of the bR480 form is associated with an increase of the purple membrane negative electrokinetic charge, while the transformation of bR480 into bR380 is accompanied by a decrease of the membrane negative charge as compared to that of the 480 nm-absorbing form. Removal of anesthetics leads to the back transitions bR480-->bR568 and (in part) bR380-->bR568; however, the electrokinetic charge of the native membranes is not restored. A strong decrease in the electric polarizability and the appearance of a slow polarizability component are also observed in anesthetic-treated membranes. Comparison with the electrokinetic behaviour of partially delipidated membranes and with that of liposomes composed of purple membrane total lipids suggests that: (i) anesthetic molecules partition mainly at the protein/lipid interface inducing irreversible rearrangement of the boundary lipid layer, and (ii) different mode(s) or site(s) of interaction are responsible for the spectral and surface charge effects. The data are compatible with the hypothesis of anesthetics acting through partial dehydration of the membrane surface.

Interactions between volatile anesthetics and dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine liposomes as studied by fluorometry with a thiacarbocyanine dye

The effects of volatile anesthetics on the properties of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine liposome were investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy with a thiacarbocyanine dye (3,3"-dioctadecyl-2,2"-thiacarbocyanine) which is sensitive to the viscosity and the dielectric constant of the environment. Seven volatile anesthetics, halothane, enflurane, isoflurane, methoxyflurane, sevoflurane, diethylether and chloroform were used. All anesthetics decreased the phase transition temperature of the liposome and increased the effective dielectric constant of the water-liposome interface. The increase of the effective dielectric constant was attributed to the release of the hydrated water molecules from the membrane surface. The increment of the effective dielectric constant depended on the thermodynamic activity of anesthetics in the solution, and was not affected seriously by the kind of anesthetics. On the other hand, the degree of the depression of the phase transition temperature depended on the molar concentrations of anesthetics. Considering from the Ferguson's report, which is dealt with the relationship between the physiological effect and the thermodynamic activity, the effect of anesthetics on the effective dielectric constant of the membrane surface is more correlated to the anesthetic action than the effect on the phase transition temperature.

Interfacial dehydration by anesthetics: an electrocapillary study of surface charge density of adsorbed monolayer

We have proposed that anesthetics destruct the hydration shell of macromolecules irrespective of lipid membranes or proteins. These macromolecular structures are supported by the hydrogen-bonded matrix of water molecules. A loss of this support destabilizes the membranes and proteins. The disordered structures are suboptimal for the assigned biological functions, and anesthesia may ensue. We postulated that the dehydration is prompted mainly by the decrease in the interactions of the surface charges with the water dipole. To prove or disprove the above hypothesis, this study measured the effect of volatile anesthetics (chloroform, halothane, and enflurane) on the surface charge density in adsorbed monolayers by an electrocapillary method. The oil phase was methylisobutylketone (MIBK) with cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC). The aqueous phase was 0.1 M NaCl. The anesthetics decreased the surface charge density, and the effect paralleled the clinical anesthetic potency. At concentrations that induce surgical stage anesthesia in 50% of the population, these anesthetics reduced the surface charge density by 5%.

Proton flow along lipid bilayer surfaces: effect of halothane on the lateral surface conductance and membrane hydration

Impedance dispersion in liposomes measures the lateral charge transfer of lipid membrane surfaces. Depending on the choice of frequency between 1 kHz and 100 GHz, relaxation of the counterions at the interface, orientation of the head group, and relaxation of the bound and free water are revealed. This study measured the impedance dispersion in dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposomes at 10 kHz. The surface conductance and capacitance showed breaks at pre- and main transition temperatures. Below the pre-transition temperature, the activation energy of the ion movement was 18.1 kJ.mol-1, which corresponded to that of the spin-lattice relaxation time of water (18.0 kJ.mol-1). At temperatures between pre- and main transition it increased to 51.3 kJ.mol-1, and agreed with 46.2-58.0 kJ.mol-1 of the activation energy of the dielectric relaxation of ice. Because the present system was salt-free, the ions were H3O+ and OH-, hence, their behavior represents that of water. The above results show that below the pre-transition temperature, the conductance is regulated by the mobility of free ions, or the number of free water molecules near the interface. On the other hand when the temperature exceeded pre-transition, melting of the surface-bound water crystals became the rate-limiting step for the proton flow. Halothane did not show any effect on the ion movement when the temperature was below pre-transition. When the temperature exceeded pre-transition, 0.35 mM halothane (equilibrium concentration) decreased the activation energy of the ion movement to 29.3 kJ.mol-1. This decrease indicates that halothane enhanced the release of the surface-bound water molecules at pre-transition. The surface-disordering effect of halothane was also shown by depression of the pre-transition temperature and decrease of the association energy among head groups from 9.7 kJ.mol-1 of the control to 5.2 kJ.mol-1 at 0.35 mM.

The effects of alcohols in vitro on the nervous cell membrane measured by changes in the (Ca2+/Mg2+) ATPase activity and fluidity of the synaptosomal membrane

The effect of various alkanols on the central nervous system was studied by using rat brain synaptosomal membranes as an in vitro model. The activity of (Ca2+/Mg2+)ATPase and the membrane fluidity were determined. The n-alkanols exhibited an increased molar inhibition of the ATPase activity with an increase in the carbon chain length up to 1-octanol. 1-octanol and 1-decanol caused a biphasic effect on the ATPase activity depending on the alkanol concentration, whereas 1-dodecanol caused a stimulation of the ATPase activity. All alkanols studied caused an increased fluidity of the membrane. Our results indicate that the effect of alkanols on the ATPase activity depends on changes in the border layer between the membrane and the surrounding medium and on a binding of the alkanols to the enzyme molecule. Furthermore, the two-way effect of 1-octanol and 1-decanol and the stimulatory effect of 1-dodecanol indicate that more mechanisms are involved. In addition, the results indicate that changes in the membrane fluidity do not seem to be a prerequisite of the ATPase inhibition.

Changes in surface capacitance and conductance parallel to phospholipid membranes associated with phase transition: effects of halothane

The effects of phase transition on the surface capacitance and conductance parallel to dipalmitoyl- (DPPC) and dimyristoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) membranes were studied by impedance dispersion. The phospholipid aggregates were embedded into pores of a polycarbonate filter and the impedance dispersions were measured at a frequency range from 30 Hz to 1.0 MHz. When the frequency was below 120 kHz, the capacitance showed a peak at the pretransition temperature and a steep rise at the main-transition temperature. In this system, the observed capacitance consists of frequency-dependent and -independent parts. The frequency-dependent part is a surface phenomenon and arises from the lateral motion of counterions at the membrane/water interface. The frequency-independent part represents mainly the properties of the bulk lipid phase. Addition of halothane decreased the total capacitance of the DPPC aggregates at the low frequency range to 1/2 to 1/8 of the control depending upon the temperature. The surface component was solely responsible for this capacitance decrease, because the non-surface component was slightly increased instead. The data suggest that halothane inhibited the lateral ionic flow parallel to the interface.

Saturable and unsaturable binding of a volatile anesthetic enflurane with model lipid vesicle membranes

Presence of specific receptors for volatile anesthetics has recently been proposed (Evers, A.S. et al. (1987) Nature 328, 157-160) by a finding that halothane uptake by the rat brain was characterized, in part, by saturable binding. We report here that volatile anesthetics bind model lipid membranes also with saturable and unsaturable kinetics. Binding of enflurane to dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine vesicle membranes was measured by gas chromatography. At low anesthetic concentrations, comparable to the clinical level, the interaction was saturable. After reaching a temporary saturation, a sudden increase in the anesthetic binding to the membrane occurred, when the anesthetic concentration in the aqueous phase exceeded 2.7 mM, or 6.3 x 10(-2) atm partial pressure in the gas phase in equilibrium with the aqueous phase. The secondary binding was linear to the aqueous anesthetic concentrations and was unsaturable to the limit of this study. We also found that enflurane self-aggregated in water above 4 mM. When the aqueous concentration exceeded 6 mM, the aggregation number was about 8. We conclude that the saturable binding indicates adsorption onto the vesicle surface, and the unsaturable binding indicates multilayer stacking of the enflurane molecules, where the initially adsorbed molecules provide the binding sites to the succeeding molecules according to the multilayer condensation kinetics. The tendency of enflurane to self-aggregate in water promotes the multilayer stacking at the surface of the membrane.

The Hofmeister effect and the behaviour of water at interfaces

Starting from known properties of non-specific salt effects on the surface tension at an air-water interface, we propose the first general, detailed qualitative molecular mechanism for the origins of ion-specific (Hofmeister) effects on the surface potential difference at an air-water interface; this mechanism suggests a simple model for the behaviour of water at all interfaces (including water-solute interfaces), regardless of whether the non-aqueous component is neutral or charged, polar or non-polar. Specifically, water near an isolated interface is conceptually divided into three layers, each layer being I water-molecule thick. We propose that the solute determines the behaviour of the adjacent first interfacial water layer (I1); that the bulk solution determines the behaviour of the third interfacial water layer (I3), and that both I1 and I3 compete for hydrogen-bonding interactions with the intervening water layer (I2), which can be thought of as a transition layer. The model requires that a polar kosmotrope (polar water-structure maker) interact with I1 more strongly than would bulk water in its place; that a chaotrope (water-structure breaker) interact with I1 somewhat less strongly than would bulk water in its place; and that a non-polar kosmotrope (non-polar water-structure maker) interact with I1 much less strongly than would bulk water in its place. We introduce two simple new postulates to describe the behaviour of I1 water molecules in aqueous solution. The first, the 'relative competition' postulate, states that an I1 water molecule, in maximizing its free energy (--delta G), will favour those of its highly directional polar (hydrogen-bonding) interactions with its immediate neighbours for which the maximum pairwise enthalpy of interaction (--delta H) is greatest; that is, it will favour the strongest interactions. We describe such behaviour as 'compliant', since an I1 water molecule will continually adjust its position to maximize these strong interactions. Its behaviour towards its remaining immediate neighbours, with whom it interacts relatively weakly (but still favourably), we describe as 'recalcitrant', since it will be unable to adjust its position to maximize simultaneously these interactions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Alcohol effects on rapid kinetics of water transport through lipid membranes and location of the main barrier

The effect of 1-alkanols (from 1-butanol up to 1-dodecanol) on the water permeability of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine vesicle membranes was studied by measuring the osmotic swelling rate as functions of 1-alkanol concentrations and temperatures above the gel-to-liquid-crystalline phase transition. For 1-butanol and 1-hexanol, the activation energy for water permeation was invariant with the addition of alkanols, whereas for 1-octanol, 1-decanol and 1-dodecanol, the activation energy decreased depending on the alkanol concentration, and the extent of the decrease was larger for alkanol with a longer hydrocarbon chain. These results suggests that hydrocarbon moiety beyond seven or eight carbon atoms from the head group in phospholipid molecules constitutes the main barrier for water permeation through the dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine vesicle membrane. The relative volume change of the vesicle due to osmotic swelling increased with the addition of 1-alkanols. Presumably, the membrane structural strength is weakened by the presence of 1-alkanols in the membrane. Contrary to the dependence of the swelling rate upon the alkanol carbon-chain length, no significant difference in the effect on the relative volume changes was seen among the 1-alkanols. This result suggests that weakening of the membrane structure is caused by perturbation of the membrane/water interface induced by incorporation of 1-alkanols into the membrane.

Stopped-flow study of anesthetic effect on water-transport kinetics through phospholipid membranes. Interfacial versus lipid core ligands

We have compared ligand effects between polar and apolar anesthetic molecules upon water transport across phospholipid membranes by kinetic analysis of the osmotic swelling rate, using a stopped-flow technique. Chloroform and 1-hexanol were used as interfacial ligands, and carbon tetrachloride and n-hexane were used as their counterparts, representing lipid core action. Because anesthetics transform the solid-gel membrane into a liquid-crystalline state, and because phospholipid membranes display an anomaly in permeability at the phase transition, dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine vesicles were studied at temperatures above the main phase transition to avoid this anomaly. All these molecules increased the osmotic swelling rate. However, a significant difference was observed in the activation energy, delta Ep, between polar and apolar molecules; delta Ep was almost unaltered by the addition of polar molecules (chloroform and 1-hexanol), whereas it was decreased by apolar molecules (carbon tetrachloride and n-hexane). The obtained results were analyzed in terms of the dissolution-diffusion mechanism for water permeation across the lipid membrane. It is suggested that polar molecules affect water permeability by altering the partition of water between the membrane interior and water phase, and apolar molecules affect it by altering both the partition and the diffusion of water within the membrane interior.

Benzyl alcohol penetration into micelles, dielectric constant of the binding site, partition coefficient and high-pressure squeeze-out

The absorbance maximum, lambda max, of a local anesthetic, benzyl alcohol, is shifted to longer wavelengths when solvent polarity is decreased. The shift was approximately a linear function of the dielectric constant of the solvent. This transition in electronic spectra according to the microenvironmental polarity is used to analyze benzyl alcohol binding to surfactant micelles. A facile method is devised to estimate the micelle/water partition coefficient from the dependence of lambda max of benzyl alcohol on surfactant concentrations. The effective dielectric constants of the sodium decyl sulfate, dodecyl sulfate and tetradecyl sulfate micelles were 29, 31 and 33, respectively. The partition coefficient of benzyl alcohol between the micelles and the aqueous phase was 417, 610 and 1089, respectively, in the mole fraction unit. The pressure dependence of the partition coefficient was estimated from the depression of the critical micelle concentration of sodium dodecyl sulfate by benzyl alcohol under high pressure up to 200 MPa. High pressure squeezed out benzyl alcohol molecules from the micelle until about 120 MPa, then started to squeeze in when the pressure was further increased. The volume change of benzyl alcohol by transfer from the aqueous to the micellar phase was calculated from the pressure dependence of the partition coefficient. The volume change, estimated from the thermodynamic argument, was 3.5 +/- 1.1 cm3.mol-1 at 298.15 K, which was in reasonable agreement with the partial molal volume change determined directly from the solution density measurements, 3.1 +/- 0.2 cm3.mol-1. Benzyl alcohol apparently solvates into the micelles close to surface without losing contact with the aqueous phase.

A proton nuclear magnetic resonance study on the release of bound water by inhalation anesthetic in water-in-oil emulsion

Water-in-oil emulsion was prepared from glycerol-alpha-monooleate, n-decane and water, and was used to analyze the behavior of bound water molecules in response to the addition of an inhalation anesthetic, enflurane. The motion of water molecules is monitored by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. To the first approximation, the half-height width of the proton signal of dispersed water is related to the spin-spin relaxation time and represents the motion of the water molecule. It appears that one of the two OH moieties of glycerol-alpha-monooleate forms a hydrogen bond with the water molecule in average. The half-height width of the dispersed water proton showed a maximal value when the glycerol alpha-monooleate/n-decane mole ratio was 4 X 10(-2). The cause of this maximum is not immediately clear, but it is suggested that the assembly mode of glycerol-alpha-monooleate may be different between the lower and higher concentration range. Enflurane decreased the half-height width of the dispersed water, indicating an increase in the motion of water molecules. This results demonstrates that the anesthetic weakened the hydrogen bond between water and glycerol-alpha-monooleate molecules, and released bound interfacial water. It is postulated that dehydration of the interface, as shown by the release of bound water, would interfere with the transport of current-carrying hydrated ions through membranes and may constitute a molecular mechanism of anesthesia.