On the physical-chemical properties of ceramide C16

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Chemistry.

Ceramides are known to be involved in cell signalling and are proposed to assist in the formation of laterally segregated membrane domains, known as ceramide rich domains in cell lipid bilayers. The lipid matrix of the stratum corneum, the uppermost layer of the skin, which is responsible for its water barrier properties, is mainly composed of ceramides, associated with cholesterol, long chain fatty acids and cholesteryl esters.(...)