Structural Studies of Selected DSPC-Surfactant Model Systems of Biological Membranes

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to analyse the influence of a cationic surfactant from the group of morpholine derivatives on the conformational dynamics of $CH_2$ group in acyl chain of DSPC. The presence of the surfactant causes a decrease in the DSPC phase transition temperature. This result suggests that the surfactant interactions with phospholipid molecules disturb the lipid layers. The Fourier transform infrared measurements were supplemented with tests of the environmental toxicity of the surfactant used.