Diamond-type lipid cubic phase with large water channels.

This paper describes a diamond cubic phase with large water channels and determines the temperature dependence of the bilayer thickness in the cubic monoolein/octylglucoside/water system based on time-resolved synchrotron X-ray diffraction data. The X-ray diffraction study established a diamond-type lipid cubic phase with large water channels (Dlarge), which has not been previously reported. It is a distinct phase, different from the diamond cubic phase with normal water channels (Dnormal). The larger channels might allow an enhanced entrapment efficiency of biomolecules in lipid cubic phases. The X-ray diffraction patterns recorded during a thermal scan showed a cubic-cubic structural transition from Dlarge to Dnormal. The obtained cubic phases displayed much larger lattice spacings as compared to those of pure monoolein at full hydration.