The measurements of the penetration rates of n-octane, water and formamide on bare commercial Al(2)O(3) plates and those covered by dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) or DPPC + enzyme lipase from 1 mM NaCl solution were conducted. Influence of phospholipid and enzyme on the energetic properties of the solid surface was discussed by means of the modified Washburn equation. Additionally, to explain behavior of Al(2)O(3) systems, the measurements of the zeta potential of the same alumina (powder) suspension in NaCl after adding DPPC or DPPC + enzyme lipase, were performed. The van Oss et al.'s approach to interfacial free energy interactions was applied to determine solid surface free energy components after DPPC or lipase treatment. Moreover the work of water spreading was calculated for better description of such systems. On the basis of the obtained results, it is suggested that adsorption of DPPC on the Al(2)O(3) plates increased the hydrophobic character of the alumina surface but after the enzyme action the products of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine hydrolysis by lipase, which are glycerylphosphorylcholine and palmitic acid, increased its hydrophilic character again. The most striking were the changes of the electron-donor (gamma(-)(s)) parameter (which ranged from 15 to 34 mJ/m(2)) and those of acid-base component in the range 13-18 mJ/m(2) delivering interesting information about the change of Al(2)O(3) surface character. Some correlations found between the surface free energy components and the zeta potential of alumina suspension are discussed. The obtained relationships show usefulness of the applied techniques: the thin layer wicking method and electrokinetic measurements to investigate the enzyme effect on wettability changes of the phospholipid-covered alumina surface. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.