Lipophilic C60-derivative-induced structural changes in phospholipid layers

Abstract We have studied the interactions of a lipophilic C 60 -derivative, synthesized recently for potential biomedical applications, with phospholipid monolayers and bilayers. The results of surface pressure–area isotherms, atomic force microscopic images, and neutron and X-ray scattering show consistently that the lipophilic C 60 can intercalate into monolayers as well as vesicle bilayers of the phospholipids studied. In general, the lipophilic C 60 can incorporate into the lipid membranes better in the liquid crystal phase, and modify the bending and compression modulus of the host lipid membranes significantly.