Effect of DMSO on bilayers made from a neutral surfactant (C ₁₄DMAO)

The study of the effect of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) on the structure of surfactant phases is of great interest due to its many aplications. In this study we focus on the effect of this solvent on lamellar phases of surfactant which are often used as models of the biological cell membrane. In this work several concentrations of DMSO/water solutions (6, 8 and 10% w/w in respect to water) were used to analyze the effect of this solvent on Tetradecyl dimethyl aminoxide (C₁₄DMAO) lamellar phases at different concentrations of membrane (5, 10 y 20%). The samples were analyzed by macroscopic visual observation, Polarized Light Microscopy and Freeze Fracture Electron Microscopy. The results given by all three techniques were that the variation of DMSO does in fact affect the structure of C₁₄DMAO lamellar phases and apparently the effect given by this solvent is the spontaneus curvature of the bilayers to give the formation of structure much like large multilamellar vesicles.