Solubilization of phospholipid bilayers by surfactants belonging to the Triton X series: Effect of polar group size

Various effects of Triton X-114, Triton X-100, Triton X-102, Triton X-165, and Triton X-305 (written in increasing order of cmc, hydrophile/lipophile balance, and number of ethylene oxide units, i.e., polar group size) have been tested on large unilamellar vesicles made of egg phosphatidylcholine. For both lytic and sublytic effects, Triton X-102 appears to be the most efficient member of the series. Leakage and solubilization parameters confirm the previous suggestion that these are two independent surfactant-induced processes.