Thermotropic phase behaviour of the pseudobinary mixtures of DPPC/C12E5 and DMPC/C12E5 determined by differential scanning calorimetry and ultrasonic velocimetry

The present paper reports on the phase behaviour of the pseudobinary aqueous mixtures of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC)/pentaethylene glycol monododecyl ether (C12E5) and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine monohydrate (DMPC)/C12E5. Both systems exhibit a variety of mesophases, such as lamellar gel, liquid crystalline and micellar phases. The phase diagrams show peritectic and eutectic behaviours. The existence of a compound complex is established. From the phase diagrams, the temperature dependence of the solubilisation parameters is obtained. The phase diagrams, especially with respect to the solubilisation process were qualitatively explained assuming that the packing of the constituents plays a dominating role. Finally, differential scanning calorimetry and ultrasonic velocimetry are compared concerning their potentials to determine characteristics of phase transitions in pseudobinary phospholipid/surfactant mixtures.