The measurement of the kinetics of lipid phase transitions: A volume-perturbation kinetic calorimeter

✍ Scribed by Michael L. Johnson; Thomas C. Winter; Rodney L. Biltonen

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1983
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 527 KB
• Volume: 128
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0003-2697
• DOI: 10.1016/0003-2697(83)90335-4

✦ Synopsis

A volume-perturbation kinetic calorimeter to be used to study membrane phase transitions in lipid vesicles has been developed. In this instrument, the voltage-dependent extension of a stack of piezoelectric crystals is used to force the solution being studied to undergo a small adiabatic bidirectional volume change. This volume change induces a shift in the equilibrium position of the lipid gel to liquid-crystalline transition. The time course of the relaxation to the new equilibrium position is then monitored by observing the induced temperature and pressure changes as a function of time.