title: A radiolabel and electron microscopy study of the interaction of liposomes with synaptosomal membranes.
abstract: The quantitative and qualitative interaction of liposomes with synaptosomes isolated from rat brain was examined using radiolabeled phospholipids and electron microscopy. Liposomes were prepared by sonication and detergent dialysis. Binding (adsorption) of radiolabeled phospholipid to synaptosomes was saturable when liposomes were in the liquid-crystalline state, were electrically neutral (egg-phosphatidylcholine), or carried increasing fractions (10:2 and 10:4 molar ratio) of negatively charged phosphatidic acid. Analysis using the Langmuir isotherm equation indicated a biphasic adsorption behavior. Adsorption increased with increasing temperature (4 degrees C and 37 degrees C). Binding was nonsaturable when liposomes were positively charged with stearylamine or composed of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol (10:2 molar ratio). Due to the latter composition's solid state at 4 degrees C, temperature dependency was inverse. Electron micrographs revealed disc-shaped areas of adsorption that were free of integral membrane particles which appeared to form a condensed layer surrounding the areas of liposome adsorption. Following interaction with stearylamine-containing liposomes the vesicular structure of synaptosomes appeared largely destroyed. It is concluded that both liposome surface charge and membrane fluidity determine the extent of interaction with biological membranes.
authors.affiliation: University of Florida College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutics, J. Hillis Miller Health Center, Gainesville 32610.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schreier
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000818:Animals; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D008081:Liposomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008560:Membrane Fluidity; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013570:Synaptic Membranes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D008081:Liposomes