The Equilibria of Phosphatidylethanolamine-Cholesterol and Phosphatidylcholine–Phosphatidylethanolamine in Monolayers at the Air/Water Interface

Recent studies concerning cholesterol, its behavior and its roles in cell growth provide important new clues to the role of this fascinating molecule in normal and pathological states.

Recent developments in characterising Langmuir monolayers of a variety of film-forming materials and employing several physicochemical techniques are reviewed. The extension of the LB method to non-amphiphilic substances, especially macromolecular systems, has increased the need of a thorough understanding of Langmuir film properties, which requires characterising techniques that provide complementary information. Since there is vast literature in the subject, only selected examples are given of results that illustrate the potential of the techniques discussed.