Measurement of curvature-elastic modulus of soya lecithin vesicles

Abstract

A pre-extracted, dried lecithin was made in contact with water, then later viewed under a transmission electron microscope. Computation of the curvature-elastic modulus involved curvature energy equations for vesicles, as well as the Boltzmann energy equation. Results had shown that κ = 7.78 x 10^-20 J (or 7.78x10^-13 ergs), which is close to the curvature-elastic modulus of egg lecithin. This shows that the intermolecular interaction between soya lecithin in water has an energy of 7.78x10^-13 ergs, which is of the order 10k_BT, indicating that the vesicle is rigid.