Modifications induced in phosphatidylcholine multilayers by Co-60 gamma-rays.

Using differential scanning calorimetry it was observed that gamma-radiation induced modifications in dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) multilayers in excess water. It was observed that, with the increase of the absorbed dose, the peak associated with the pretransition disappeared gradually, while the peak associated with the main transition became wider and flatter. The enthalpy change associated with the pretransition was found to be 4.4 +/- 0.3 kJ/mol of DMPC before irradiation and that associated with the main transition was found to be 26.0 +/- 1.3 kJ/mol of DMPC before and after irradiation. Moreover from our measurements, it seems that the trapped water becomes stable free water, because of the effect of the gamma-radiation.