Preparation of passive bilayer liposomes.
In studies of in-membrane molecular interactions, need may arise for a matrix that cannot itself interact, except hydrophobically, with the reactants. Such a bilayer matrix should, ideally, consist of only a hydrophobic zone without ionic outer layers and without hydrogen belts (the membrane strata containing CO and OH groups). However, because of the necessity of anchoring the bilayer to its aqueous surroundings, there must be polar substituents. Hydrophilic ether groups in the form of polyoxyethylenes can provide nearly sufficient anchoring and yet not confer unwanted reactivity to the membrane since they are only very weak H-bond acceptors. The stability of the bilayer is ensured by the presence of a few percent of an amphiphile (which may be the substrate to be studied, e.g. a phospholipid) or by a free polyethylene hydroxy group far remote from the original hydrogen belt region. Our most impermeable liposomes consisted of O-methylcholesterol/O-methoxyethoxyethoxyethylcholesterol; the most readily prepared liposomes were made from O-methylcholesterol and hydroxy(ethoxy)4dodecane (Brij 30) or Triton.
Zingoni
J
J
New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island 10314.
Chauhan
A
A
Chauhan
V P
VP
Brockerhoff
H
H
D001150:Arsenazo III; D002118:Calcium; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008954:Models, Biological
D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D001150:Arsenazo III; D002784:Cholesterol; D002118:Calcium