Direct measurement of molecular interaction forces in foam films from lung surfactant fraction

Molecular interaction forces, operative in microscopic foam films obtained from the isolated hydrophobic fractions of porcine lung surfactant (AS-B) are investigated by monitoring film thickness h as a function of electrolyte concentration (C _el) and direct measurements of disjoining pressure/thickness (Π(h)) isotherms. The steep decrease of the common film thickness with the increase of C _el evidences the action of long-range electrostatic surface forces. The experimental h(C _el) curve indicates that non-Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) repulsive forces are operative at C _el where common black (CBF) and Newton black films (NBF) are obtained including the physiologically relevant C _el=0.14 mol dm⁻³ NaCl. The action of additional non-DLVO forces is corroborated by the comparison of the experimentally measured Π(h) isotherm with the DLVO theory. Considering the presence of proteins in AS-B and the formation of lipid-protein complexes it is inferred that steric type forces are operative in CBF and NBF.