Unusual phosphatidylcholine lipid phase behavior in the ionic liquid ethylammonium nitrate.

Hypothesis: The forces that govern lipid self-assembly ionic liquids are similar to water, but their different balance can result in unexpected behaviour.

Experiments: The self-assembly behaviour and phase equilibria of two phospholipids, 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC) and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC), in the most common protic ionic liquid, ethylammonium nitrate (EAN) have been investigated as function of composition and temperature by small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS).

Findings: Both lipids form unusual self-assembly structures and show complex and unexpected phase behaviour unlike that seen in water; DSPC undergoes a gel L to crystalline L phase transition on warming, while POPC forms worm-like micelles L upon dilution. This surprising phase behaviour is attributed to the large size of the EAN ions that solvate the lipid headgroup compared to water changing amphiphile packing. Weaker H-bonding between EAN and lipid headgroups also contributes. These results provide new insight for the design of lipid based nanostructured materials in ionic liquids with atypical properties.