Phase Behavior of the Bilayers Containing Hydrogenated Soy Lecithin and β-Sitosteryl Sulfate

The phase behaviors of systems containing saturated phosphatidylcholine (PC) and plant steroids can be important for designing new alternative delivery methods. In our previous studies, we found that even a small amount of β-sitosteryl sulfate (PSO4) significantly affects the phase behavior, hydration properties, and liposomal properties of pure saturated phosphatidylcholines [Kafle, A.; et al. Colloids Surf., B 2018, 161, 59-66; Kafle, A.; et al. J. Oleo Sci. 2018, 67 (12), 1511-1519]. In the current paper, we are reporting the phase behavior of a more complex system consisting of hydrogenated soy lecithin (HLC), which is useful as a carrier in drug delivery systems or in cosmetics, and PSO4. HLC, which is composed of phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidic acid (PA), and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), demonstrated a versatile phase behavior. The PC component of HLC was found to separate from the PE and PA components as a result of nonideal mixing. At room temperature, these two domains represented two distinct gel phases denoted Lβ1 and Lβ2. The Lβ1 phase selectively underwent transition into the liquid crystalline phase (Lα) at a lower temperature than Lβ2. Upon addition of PSO4, at room temperature, the PC fraction gradually converted into the liquid-ordered (Lo) phase, while the (PE + PA) fraction remained unaffected. When heated above 60 °C, the whole material converted into the liquid crystalline phase. The observed fluidizing effect of PSO4 on HLC can find applications in preparing vehicles for moisture or drugs in cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations.