Induction of the Interdigitated Gel Phase of Hydrated Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine Bilayers by the Artificial Sweetener Sucralose

Recent research indicates that high doses of sucralose content can weaken the immune response in mice. To better understand the interaction between cell membranes and sucralose, we studied model biomembranes composed of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayers in a sucralose solution. Calorimetry measurements showed that the effect of sucralose on the phase behavior is biphasic. Pretransitions and main transitions are decreased at low sucralose concentrations, while the main transition is increased at high concentrations. Pretransitions cannot be detected above the concentration at which the direction of change in the main transition temperature reverses. X-ray diffraction measurements revealed that sucralose at concentrations higher than 0.2 M induces the interdigitated gel (L