Chiral templating of silica-lipid lamellar mesophase with helical tubular architecture.

Abstract

A lamellar hybrid mesostructure containing polymerizable diacetylinic groups is coassembled in the in situ synthesis of silica by acid hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) in the presence of 1,2-bis(10,12-tricosadiyonyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DC8,9PC) lipid molecules. This mesostructure is subsequently twisted into high aspect-ratio tubules and ribbons with helical architecture (see picture). Interactions between the silica and lipid headgroups promote diacetylenic polymerization under conditions at which the unmineralized lipid microstructures show little or no activity.