Solvation dynamics in dimyristoyl-phosphatidylcholine entrapped inside a sol-gel matrix

Abstract

Solvation dynamics of coumarin 480 (C480) is studied in a sol-gel matrix containing dimyristoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DMPC). In the presence of DMPC, the average solvation time (τ_s) in the sol-gel glass is found to be 500 ps. This indicates that in the sol-gel matrix solvation dynamics in the presence of DMPC is slower than that in its absence. The solvation dynamics of C480 in the DMPC entrapped TEOS sol-gel matrix is much faster than that in DMPC liposomes in bulk water. This suggests that the DMPC entrapped TEOS sol-gel matrix is very different from DMPC liposomes in bulk water. The rotational relaxation of C480 is found to be very fast giving rise to a very small initial anisotropy value (r₀ = 0.08). This shows that even after incorporation of lipids inside the TEOS sol-gel matrix, the probe C480 remains highly mobile.