Evidence of surfactant-induced formation of transient pores in lipid bilayers by using magnetic-fluid-loaded liposomes.
It is often assumed that surfactant-induced permeability of lipid membranes obeys a pore-formation mechanism, but, to date, this has not been totally proven. A novel approach is developed using a magnetic fluid composed of calibrated nanocrystals of maghemite (gamma-Fe2O3) as a permeability marker. It is shown that low amounts of surfactant molecules catalyze the transient opening of unilamellar phospholipid vesicles which permit the passage of 8 nm maghemite nanospheres before closing up.
Lesieur
Sylviane
S
Equipe Physico-Chimie des Systèmes Polyphasés, CNRS UMR 8612, F-92296 Châtenay-Malabry Cedex, France. sylvaine.lesieur@cep.u-psud.fr
Grabielle-Madelmont
Cécile
C
Ménager
Christine
C
Cabuil
Valérie
V
Dadhi
Delphine
D
Pierrot
Pascale
P
Edwards
Katarina
K
D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D003080:Cold Temperature; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008280:Magnetics; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000737:chemistry; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry*
D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008081:Liposomes; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D013501:Surface-Active Agents