Surface Micro Topographical and Dielectric Studies of Cholesterol Crystals

Abstract

Cholesterol is a main component in mammalian cell membranes and lipoproteins. High level of cholesterol in blood can damage arteries and potentially linked with cardiovascular diseases. Cholesterol is also major constituent of gall stones. Cholesterol crystals were grown by single diffusion gel growth technique using neutral silica gel set by acetic acid. Solution of cholesterol prepared in acetone was poured as a supernatant solution on set gel. Transparent, thin, platelet type crystals were grown. Powder XRD and FT IR studies were carried out for the confirmation of crystal system and chemical bonding. The surface micro topographical study was carried out by using SEM and AFM and interesting features were observed. As cholesterol possesses high dielectric constant, it functions as an insulting cover for the transmission of electric impulses in the nervous tissues; therefore, the dielectric study was carried to understand its dielectric behavior in the frequency range from 50 Hz to 5 MHz. The dielectric constant decreased as the frequency of applied field increased. The a.c. conductivity and a.c. resistivity were also calculated.