Structural characterization of Di-C-12 P-uridine worm-like micelles: ionic strength dependence

1,2-Dilauroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidyl-adenosine in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH = 7.5) forms worm-like micelles that with ageing of the solution, self-assemble into helical superstructures. Small-angle neutron scattering has shown that dissolution of even small amounts of oil in the hydrophobic cores induces a dramatic structural transition to form spherical micelles. A variation of the interfacial film curvature promotes a strong change in base-base interaction pattern as shown in circular dichroism experiments.