Phospholipid bilayers containing branched chain molecules, phytol (1), vitamin E (2), and phytanic acid (3), have been investigated by 31P nmr, esr, and differential scanning calorimetry (dsc).A 31P lanthanide induced shift study indicated varying permeabilities to Pr3+ in the order phytanic acid > vitamin E > phytol > egg yolk lecithin alone; the half-lives (in days) were 0.002, 0.14, 0.83, and 6.5, respectively. The activation energy for Pr3+ permeation through the egg yolk lecithin–phytol membrane was found to be 84.9 ± 0.8 kJ.The following esr order parameters, S3, were obtained using the extrinsic spin label, 5-doxylpalmitic acid, in oriented mixed multibilayers: S3 (1) = 0.29, S3 (2) = 0.50, and S3 (3) = 0.02.Differential scanning calorimetry revealed a lowering of the gel–liquid crystalline phase transition temperature, Tc, as the concentration of incorporated isoprenoid compound increases, with eventual disappearance of the endotherm. Specific entropy, s, calculated for dipalmitoyl lecithin +25 mol% 3 is 126 J kg−1 K−1 compared to s = 114.2 J kg−1 K−1 for 1and s = 85 J kg−1 K−1 for 2.
Combined thermal analysis of plant oils
