title: Neutral liposomes containing crown ether-lipids as potential DNA vectors.
abstract: Three crown ether derivatives, 1,2-O-dioleoyl-3-O-{2-[(12-crown-4)methoxy]ethyl}-sn-glycerol (12C4L), 1,2-O-dioleoyl-3-O-{2-[(15-crown-5)methoxy]ethyl}-sn-glycerol (15C5L) and 2,3-naphtho-15-crown-5 (NAP5), have been incorporated into 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-phosphatydilcholine (POPC) liposomes. The size of the crown ether and the lipophilic moiety of 12C4L, 15C5L and NAP5 influence the stability and the properties of the extruded POPC liposomes determined at 25°C in buffered aqueous solution at pH7.4. The investigated liposomes are zwitterionic for POPC headgroups but can be turned into cationic aggregates in the presence of divalent cations. The capability of these systems to complex DNA has been demonstrated by SAXS experiments.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università "G. d'Annunzio" di Chieti-Pescara, via dei Vestini, 66100 Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Angelini
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pisani
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mobbili
authors.forename: Milvia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gasbarri
mesh_terms: D043844:Crown Ethers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008081:Liposomes; D053838:Scattering, Small Angle
chemical_list: D043844:Crown Ethers; D008055:Lipids; D008081:Liposomes; D004247:DNA
keywords: Crown ether-lipid; DNA complex; Kinetics; Liposome; Turbidity