ABSTRACT
The systematic and in-depth study of liposomes prepared from various phospholipids is relevant and important because the results obtained may provide insights into the structure-property relationships of these amphipathic lipids in cell membranes. Liposomes, or aqueous dispersions of enclosed multilamellar lipid vesicles, are well known to be the result of the remarkable self-assembly capabilities exhibited by amphipathic lipid molecules in excess water. The constructed transbilayer dimer is then subjected to energy minimization using Allinger’s MM2 program. In general, the intermolecular interaction between two monomers within a dimer is intimately related to the stability of the dimer. If the geometry of the dimer is such that extensive attractive interactions can occur between the two constituent monomers, then this dimer can be expected to be stable at equilibrium. Small molecules, including water molecules, thus may be accommodated in a snug fit by the hydrophobic pocket within the closely packed hydrocarbon interior of a bilayer.
