How to stabilize phospholipid liposomes (using nanoparticles).

Liangfang Zhang; Steve Granick

doi:10.1021/nl052455y

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How to stabilize phospholipid liposomes (using nanoparticles).

Liangfang Zhang·Steve Granick

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Abstract

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.

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Lipid Bilayers Liposomes Materials Testing Membrane Fluidity Membrane Fusion Molecular Conformation Nanostructures Particle Size Phospholipids Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

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Liangfang Zhang, Steve Granick. 2006. How to stabilize phospholipid liposomes (using nanoparticles).. https://doi.org/10.1021/nl052455y

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