We have studied the impact of a hydrophobically modified strong polycation on the properties of a zwitterionic bilayer used as a model of the mammalian cellular membrane. Our results have shown that a new polycation, poly(allyl-N,Ndimethyl-N-hexylammonium chloride) can efficiently associate with and insert into the phosphocholine membrane without changing its lamellar structure.
However, its binding promotes formation of hydrophilic pores in the membrane, thus increasing considerably its permeability.