Reversing the course of the competitive adsorption between a phospholipid and albumin at an air–water interface

Abstract

When bovine serum albumin (BSA) and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) compete for occupation of an air–water interface, the protein rapidly colonizes the interface, effectively hindering the access of the phospholipid, a situation encountered in certain pulmonary conditions. We found that DPPC can totally and irreversibly displace BSA from the surface of a gas bubble when submitted to sustained sinusoidal oscillations at frequencies in the range of those encountered in respiration, and this without recourse to any additive.