Cholesterol is an important component of lipid rafts in mammalian cell membranes. Studies of phospholipid monolayers containing cholesterol provide insight into the role of cholesterol in regulating the properties of animal cells, raft stability, and organization. In this contribution, a study of the characteristics of binary Langmuir monolayers consisting of phospholipids, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC), 2-oleoyl-1-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC), 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-rac-(1-glycerol) (DPPG), and cholesterol (Chol), was conducted on the basis of the surface pressure-area per molecule (π-A) isotherms. Analysis of the results obtained provided information on the mean molecular area, the excess Gibbs energy of mixing, and condensation in the monolayer. The mixed monolayers were also deposited onto the mica plates and investigated by the contact angle measurements of water, formamide, and diiodomethane. The contact angles allowed calculating surface free energy of the films from the van Oss et al. approach. It was found that cholesterol determines the molecular packing and ordering of the monolayers closely connected with the kind of phospholipid. This is reflected in the values of surface free energy of the model membranes. From the thermodynamic analysis of phospholipid/cholesterol/liquid interactions, one may draw conclusions about the most favorable composition (stoichiometry) of the binary film which is especially important in view of the lipid rafts formation.

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The study of Langmuir monolayers incorporating biomimetic and bioactive substances plays an important role today in assessing the properties and quality of the molecular films for potential biomedical applications. Here, miscibility of binary and ternary monolayers of phospholipid (dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine, DOPC), immunosuppressant (cyclosporine A, CsA), and antioxidant (lauryl gallate, LG) of varying molar fractions was analyzed by means of the Langmuir technique coupled with a surface potential (ΔV) module at the air–water interface. The surface pressure–area per molecule (π–A) isotherms provided information on the physical state of the films at a given surface pressure, the monolayer packing and ordering, and the type and strength of intermolecular interactions. Surface potential–area (ΔV–A) isotherms revealed the molecular orientation changes at the interface upon compression. In addition, the apparent dipole moment of the monolayer-forming molecules was determined from the surface potential isotherms. The obtained results indicated that the film compression provoked subsequent changes of CsA conformation and/or orientation, conferring better affinity for the hydrocarbon environment. The mutual interactions between the components were analyzed here in terms of the excess and total Gibbs energy of mixing, whose values depended on the stoichiometry of the mixed films. The strongest attraction, thus the highest thermodynamic stability, was found for a DOPC–CsA–LG mixture with a 1:1:2 molar ratio. Based on these results, a molecular model for the organization of the molecules within the Langmuir film was proposed. Through this model, we elucidated the significant role of LG in improving the miscibility of CsA in the model DOPC membrane and thus in increasing the stability of self-assembled monolayers by noncovalent interactions, such as H-bonds and Lifshitz–van der Waals forces. The above 1:1:2 combination of three components is revealed as the most promising film composition for the modification of implant device surfaces to improve their biocompatibility. Further insight into mechanisms concerning drug–membrane interactions at the molecular level is provided, which results in great importance for biocoating design and development as well as for drug release at target sites.

The effect of different amounts of lauryl gallate (LG) on properties of the model membranes of phosphatidylcholines (PC), differing in the presence of double bonds in the hydrocarbon chains, and phosphatidylglycerol (PG) was described in terms of phase behaviour of mixtures, interactions between both components, monolayers stability and their organization. The Langmuir monolayer technique was used to monitor the surface thermodynamics (i.e. the excess area and excess Gibbs energy of mixing) on the basis of surface pressure-area per molecule (π-A) isotherms. Simultaneously, morphology of the studied monolayers was visualized by the Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). This allowed evaluating the kind and magnitude of interactions which influence on the phase behaviour and structural properties of the monolayers. The obtained results can be helpful to reveal the mechanism of phospholipid antioxidant protection and important pharmacological (antimicrobial) role of lauryl gallate for production of effective therapeutic substances.

Wettability properties of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) activated and non-activated by nitrogen plasma have been investigated. Moreover, the PEEK plates were covered with antibacterial chitosan and its wettability properties were also investigated. Surface topography was determined using SEM and optical profilometry and surface composition by FT-IR and XPS. For determination of apparent surface free energy, the hysteresis approach (CAH), acid base (LWAB), and Owens-Wendt (O-W) theory were used. The equilibrium contact angles were calculated from the Tadmor theory and further used for apparent surface energy calculation applying the abovementioned approaches. Due to the surface plasma activation both the roughness of the surface and the polar component of apparent surface free energy increased. It is shown that nitrogen plasma activation of PEEK surface increases the adhesion of chitosan to the surface due to the combination effect of: (i) the increase in surface roughness, (ii) introducing the polar groups onto the surface. K E Y W O R D S chitosan, low-temperature plasma activation, polyetheretherketone, surface free energy, wettability How to cite this article: Terpiłowski K, Wiącek AE, Jurak M. Influence of nitrogen plasma treatment on the wettability of polyetheretherketone and deposited chitosan layers. Adv Polym Technol. 2018;37:1557-1569.