RESUMEN
The solubilization of extruded (100 nm) unilamellar egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (EYPC) liposomes by a series of N-alkyl-N,N-dimethylamine N-oxides (CnNO, n = 10-14 carbon atoms in the alkyl substituent) was studied using turbidimetry. The solubilizing concentration of CnNO (cS) was estimated as the CnNO concentration causing the half-maximum decrease in turbidance. From the linear cS dependence on EYPC concentration, the lipid--aqueous phase molar partition coefficient (Kp) and the CnNO:EYPC molar ratio in the CnNO + EYPC aggregates (nL:nEYPC) at cS were obtained: Kp = 82 +/- 25 and nL:nEYPC = 0.70 +/- 0.20 for C10NO, Kp = 507 +/- 215 and nL:nEYPC = 0.60 +/- 0.16 for C12NO, and Kp = 12357 +/- 93 and nL:nEYPC = 1.13 +/- 0.01 for C14NO. The value of Gibbs free energy of CnNO alkyl methylene group transfer from the aqueous to the lipid phase calculated from the Kp dependence on n is -1.2 +/- 0.2 RT (R = gas constant, T = absolute temperature), within the experimental error being the same as -1.026 +/- 0.006 RT obtained from the critical micellar concentrations of CnNO. The increased value of nL:nEYPC for C14NO is caused by the decreased hydrophobic mismatch of CnNO and EYPC hydrocarbon chain lengths. This mismatch results in a structural defect in the bilayer hydrophobic core, the primary cause of bilayer destabilization and solubilization.