The Open Macromolecules Journal

2010, 4 : 48-52
Published online 2010 December 21. DOI: 10.2174/1874343901004010048
Publisher ID: TOMACROJ-4-48

Self-Organization in Two-Dimensional Organic Molecular Systems (Applications in Biomembranes)

Július Cirák
the Department of Physics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Ilkoviova 3, 812 19 Bratislava, Slovak.

ABSTRACT

Formation of a monomolecular layer (the Langmuir monolayer) at the air/water interface is a self-organized process. On the basis of measurements of π- A isotherms, mechanical and thermodynamic properties of 2D molecular systems can be evaluated. The concept is applied to the study of molecular interactions in a binary system in biological membranes: L-α-dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and gramicidin A.

Keywords:

Langmuir monolayer, surface pressure – area isotherms, excess Gibbs energy, DMPC, gramicidin A..