Effect of the Phospholipid Chain Length and Head Group on Beta-Phase Formation of Poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) Enclosed in Liposomes

We have studied the effect of head group and alkyl chain length on -phase formation in poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) (PFO) solubilized in phospholipid liposomes. Systems studied have three different alkyl chain lengths (1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine [DMPC], 1,2-didodecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine [DLPC], 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine [DPPC]) and head groups (1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate monosodium salt [DMPA], 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine [DMPE] and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-l-serine sodium salt [DMPS]). Changes in liposome size upon addition of PFO are followed by dynamic light scattering. All the phospholipids induce the formation of PFO -phase, which is followed by the emission intensity and deconvolution of the absorption spectra. Both the head group and alkyl chain length affect the yield of -phase. The photophysics of PFO incorporated in liposomes is characterized by stationary and time-resolved fluorescence, whereas the polymer-phospholipid interactions have been studied by the effect of the PFO concentration on the phospholipid phase transitions (differential scanning calorimetry [DSC]).