How to stabilize phospholipid liposomes (using nanoparticles).
The simple strategy of mixing phospholipid liposomes with charged nanoparticles and using sonication to mix them at low volume fraction produces particle-stabilized liposomes that repel one another and do not fuse. Subsequently, the volume fraction can be raised as high as approximately 50%, reversibly, still without fusion. In studies of liposome longevity, we verified the stability of particle-stabilized liposome suspensions with volume fraction up to 16% for up to 50 days, the longest period investigated. Fluorescent dyes were encapsulated within the particle-stabilized liposomes, without leakage. Although these particle-stabilized liposomes were stable against fusion, approximately 75% of the outer liposome surface remained unoccupied. This opens the door to using particle-stabilized liposomes in various applications.
Zhang
Liangfang
L
Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
Granick
Steve
S
D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D008081:Liposomes / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008560:Membrane Fluidity; D008561:Membrane Fusion; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*
D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008081:Liposomes; D010743:Phospholipids