Förster energy transfer in two-dimensional amphiphile arrays at the air/water interface

Abstract

Förster energy transfer between several donor and acceptor pairs has been examined in insoluble monolayers at the air/water interface. For the monolayer system consisting of N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)dipalmitoyl-L-α- phosphatidylethanolamine (donor molecule), N-((lissamine rhodamine B)sulfonyl)dipalmitoyl-L-α-phosphatidylethanolamine, triethylammonium salt (RhB-DPPE) (acceptor molecule), in a dioleoyl-L-α-phosphatidylcholine (DOPC) matrix, the critical energy-transfer distance, R0, was found to be 5.2 nm, at an average area per molecule of 1.15 nm2, and 4.7 nm, at an average area per molecule of 0.81 nm2. Both results are in good agreement with the theoretical value of 5.1 nm. Ins..