Amphiphilic COSAN and I2-COSAN crossing synthetic lipid membranes: planar bilayers and liposomes

The boron-rich cobaltabisdicarbollide (COSAN) and its 8,8′-I2 derivative (I2-COSAN), both of purely inorganic nature, are shown to cross through synthetic lipid membranes. These results reveal unexpected properties at the interface of biological and synthetic membranes.