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Journal of Physical Chemistry B, Vol.104, No.24, 5657-5660, 2000
High-magnetic-field effects on liposomes and black membranes of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholin: Magneotresponses in membrane potential and magnetofusion
Deformation in membranes of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholin (DPPC) led to the fusion of its liposome and large changes in the membrane potential of its black membrane under high magnetic fields of up to 28 T. The magnetofusion of DPPC liposomes significantly depended on the particle size and aromatic compounds doped. Although a theory for the magnetic deformation of liposomes predicts magnetofusion and magnetodivision, only magnetofusion was experimentally observed. There seem to be discrete liposome sizes stabilized at 10 T. The changes in liposome size due to magnetofusion give an estimation of the local curvature of the membrane. The membrane potential of black DPPC membranes markedly increased with high magnetic fields acid doped molecules, corresponding to magnetofusion, Undulation of a membrane due to high magnetic fields may relax any orientational defects in a black lipid membrane, leading to a ripple-like structure, which may cause the magnetoresponse in the membrane potential.