Abstract
We constructed an anionic giant vesicular system using a phosphoric membrane molecule (V). Since the reactive precursor (V*) of V contains a hydrolysable diphenylazomethine unit, V* is expected to produce V and an electrolyte (E+). The hydrolysis of V* proceeded efficiently in an aqueous phosphate-buffered solution in the presence of Vvesicles. The rate of hydrolysis increases as the pH of the vesicular suspension decreases. And we measured z-potential of V vesicles. The resulting z-potential of V vesicles was -76 mV in deionized water (pH 6.7) and -120 mV in phosphate buffer (pH 6.5). It means that the local proton-concentration must be higher in the solvent layer surrounding the anionic vesicle than that in the bulk. The time course of the conversion of V* in a buffered solution in the absence of V shows a sigmoidal curve. This behavior strongly suggests that the hydrolysis of V* is catalyzed on the surface of pre-formed V vesicles. Another intriguing feature of this dynamic system is that the number of giant vesicles increases as a result of the self-reproducing dynamics.
