Controlling nanostructure and lattice parameter of the inverse bicontinuous cubic phases in functionalised phytantriol dispersions.

The preparation and phase behavior of dispersed liquid crystalline particles comprised of phytantriol and various functionalised lipids are reported. These inverse bicontinuous cubic phase colloidal dispersions have been sterically stabilized with a triblock copolymer, Pluronic F127. The influence of added negatively charged amphiphiles oleic acid and sodium dodecylsulfate, the positively charged hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, and monoolein a neutral amphiphile, on phase behavior and cubic phase structure was examined by synchrotron small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Functionality was also introduced through ligand specific lipids monosialoganglioside-GM1 and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[biotinyl(polyethylene glycol)-2000]. SAXS measurements showed that all of the additives affected the long-range order of the inverse cubic phase observed through either phase behavior changes or alteration in lattice parameter.