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Abstract
In this work, we have investigated the impact of composition of cholesterol in the lipid membrane composed of phosphatidylcholine (POPC) or phosphatidylglycerol (POPG) on the membrane permeability induced by 1-dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C12MIM]+Br-) ionic liquid using various biophysical techniques. We investigated four different compositions of cholesterol (10, 20, 30, and 40 mole%) both with POPC and POPC phospholipids. Membrane permeability was determined using steady-fluorescence-based dye leakage assay. Further, interaction of ionic liquid with lipid membranes was investigated using ζ-potential measurements, and dynamic light scattering for measuring the size distribution. POPC and POPG membranes both show a reduction in [C12MIM]+ induced membrane permeability in the presence of cholesterol which continues with a further increase in cholesterol content. The overall reduction in membrane permeability is more in POPG LUVs in the presence of 30 and 40 mol% cholesterol content. Besides this, cholesterol also impacts the [C12MIM]+Br--induced fusion of POPC and POPG LUVs at higher ionic liquid concentrations. POPG membranes become more fusion prone in the presence of cholesterol as compared to POPC lipid membrane.
