Determination of the Orientation of Phospholipid Molecules in Planar Structures from Raman Spectra

Resumo

A method is proposed for determining the orientation of phospholipid molecules in planar structures from spectra of non-polarized Raman scattering. The method is based on the sensitivity of the intensity of lines of Raman scattering from vibrations of CH₂ groups to the orientation of phospholipid molecules. The validity of the method is illustrated on a planar sample of a saturated phospholipid prepared by drying from a solution. The principal component analysis is demonstrated to be a convenient tool for analyzing the spatial distribution of molecule orientations in the sample.