14N NMR Spectra Sensitively Reflect Surface Curvature and Segmental Motion of Hydrophilic Headgroups in Lipid Bilayers and Micelles

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Abstract
To study the surface curvature dependence of the dynamical structure of the headgroups of phospholipids forming bilayers and micelles, 14N NMR spectra were measured for liposomes of phosphatidylcholine and for micelles of lysophosphatidylcholine. Choline 14N NMR signals were observed for the micelles and small unilamellar vesicles, which involve high surface curvatures. The signals vanished, on the other hand, when the diameter was increased from 55 to 100 nm in unilamellar vesicles.