Gregory L. McIntire

Interfacial spin trapping in model membrane systems

Summary Spatially resolved spin trapping in ordered media has been demonstrated by using an amphiphilic nitrone derived spin trap co-assembled with other amphiphiles to form either micelles or vesicles. The ability of α-(4-dodecyloxyphenyl)-N- tert -butyl nitrone to trap transient phenyl radicals generated either in the bulk aqueous phase or in the hydrophobic region of the vesicle or micelle confirms its location and function at the “membrane”/solution interface. These results establish that reactions involving transient free radicals occurring at the interface of ordered systems can be studied using spatially resolved spin trapping.