Elastic precursor of the transformation from glycolipid nanotube to vesicle

Using a combination of manipulation with optical tweezers and digital video microscopy, the flexural rigidity of single glycolipid 'nano' tubes has been measured below the transition temperature at which the lipid tubules are transformed into vesicles. Consequently, we have found a clear reduction in the rigidity before the transition as temperature is increasing. Further experiments using infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) have suggested a microscopic change of the tube walls, synchronizing with the precursory softening of the nanotubes