Fabrication and characterization of pseudo-ceramide-based liposomal membranes.
We present a facile and straightforward method to fabricate liposomal membranes with a significantly stable lamellar structure consisting of pseudo-ceramide, fatty acid, and cholesterol. Characterizing their membrane properties, in which we have used differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and FT-IR spectra, enables us to demonstrate that pseudo-ceramide with appropriate amounts of stearic acid and cholesterol can assemble to form a stable lamellar alpha-phase. Moreover, we show that cholesterol is indeed important and plays a role in controlling the melting entropy of lipid membranes, which is attributed to a disordered molecular packing, thus creating more flexible liposomal membranes. This approach to use pseudo-ceramide offers a useful means to fabricate a variety of biocompatible liposomes with controllable membrane properties, which enlarges their applicability in the field of drug delivery, dermatology, and cosmetics.
Kim
Do-Hoon
DH
Amore-Pacific Co R&D Center, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-Do 446-729, Republic of Korea.
An
Eun Jung
EJ
Kim
Jongwon
J
Han
Sang-Hoon
SH
Kim
Jin-Woong
JW
Oh
Seong-Geun
SG
Suh
Kyung-Do
KD
Cho
Eun Chul
EC
D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D002518:Ceramides / Q000737:chemistry*; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D002518:Ceramides; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008081:Liposomes