title: Aqueous phase separation in giant vesicles.
abstract: We report the synthesis and initial characterization of approximately 10 mum diameter lipid vesicles that contain two distinct aqueous phases. The aqueous two-phase system is a dextran/poly(ethylene glycol) solution that exhibits temperature-dependent phase behavior. Vesicles were prepared above the phase transition temperature of the polymer solution. Upon cooling to room temperature, the polymer solution phase separated both within the vesicles and in the bulk solution. The location of poly(ethylene glycol)-rich and dextran-rich phases was determined by fluorescence microscopy. These structures are exciting in that they enable for the first time the interior volume of liposomes to be structured.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802, USA.
authors.forename: Marcus R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Helfrich
authors.forename: Lauren K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Mangeney-Slavin
authors.forename: M Scott
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Karrera Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Djoko
authors.forename: Christine D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Keating
mesh_terms: D003911:Dextrans / Q000737:chemistry; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry*; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000737:chemistry; D010715:Phosphatidylglycerols / Q000737:chemistry; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D003911:Dextrans; D008081:Liposomes; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010715:Phosphatidylglycerols; C015219:fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran; D014867:Water; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C051388:1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate