title: Shape and size of giant unilamellar phospholipid vesicles containing cardiolipin.
abstract: The effect of cardiolipin content on the shape and size of giant palmitoyloleylphosphatidylcholine/cardiolipin vesicles was studied. Unilamellar vesicles were prepared in sugar solution by the method of electroformation, from mixtures containing up to 50% weight ratio of cardiolipin. At room temperature the vesicles containing cardiolipin exhibited abrupt changes in the curvature of the vesicle contour indicating regions of phase separation. The deviations from the spherical shape were larger if vesicles were made from mixtures with a higher content of cardiolipin. Numerous vesicles with soft fluctuating walls were observed. The estimated size of the vesicles containing cardiolipin was found to be smaller than the size of pure palmitoyloleylphosphatidylcholine vesicles.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Nejc
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tomsiè
authors.forename: Blaz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Babnik
authors.forename: Darko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.forename: Blaz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mavcic
authors.forename: Masa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanduser
authors.forename: Ales
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iglic
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kralj-Iglic
mesh_terms: D002308:Cardiolipins / Q000737:chemistry*; D004563:Electrochemistry; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010316:Particle Size; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000737:chemistry; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002308:Cardiolipins; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010743:Phospholipids; C028694:1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine