An X-ray scattering study of lipid monolayers at the air-water interface and on solid supports

Abstract Monolayers of the lipid arachidic acid (C20) and of the phospholid dimyristolyphosphatidic acid (PMDA) have been studied by X-ray reflection and diffraction technique, using a purpose-built Langmuir trough installed at the sample stage of our high-resolution X-ray diffractometer at the DORIS synchroton X-ray source in Hamburg. For comparison we also report data for monolayers of C20 on a solid support using a 10 kW rotating anode X-ray source. By the X-ray reflection method, the density profile across the interface is probe, while in-plane diffraction measurements gauge the two-dimensional crystalline properties of the monolayers. Flourescence microscopy experiments of DMPA monolay…