Monolayers of Cholesterol and Cholesteryl Stearate at the Water/Vapor Interface: A Physico-Chemical Study of Components of the Meibum Layer

Langmuir monolayers containing different amounts of cholesterol and cholesteryl stearate were studied at two different temperatures (24 °C and 35 °C). The main goal was to contribute towards the understanding of how the variations in the chemical composition may affect the physico-chemical properties of these specific lipid monolayers. The model mixture was chosen considering that cholesteryl esters are present in cell membranes and some other biological systems, including human tear lipids. Therefore, an investigation into the effect of the lipid monolayer composition on their interfacial properties may elucidate some of the fundamental reasons for the deficiencies in cell membranes and tear film functioning in vivo. The experimental results have shown that the molar ratio of the mixture plays a crucial role in the modulation of the Langmuir film properties. The condensing effects of the cholesterol and the interactions between the lipids in the monolayer were the main factors altering the monolayer response to dilatational deformation. The modification of the mixture compositions leads to significant changes in the Langmuir films and the mechanical performance, altering the ability of the monolayer to reduce the surface tension and the viscoelastic properties of the monolayers. This suggests that subtle modifications of the biomembrane composition may significantly alter its physiological function