Effect of adsorption of bovine serum albumin on liposomal membrane characteristics

The effect of adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on the membrane characteristics of liposomes at pH 7.4 was examined in terms of zeta potential, micropolarity, microfluidity and permeability of liposomal bilayer membranes, where negatively charged L-alpha-dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol (DPPG)/L-alpha-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), negatively charged dicetylphosphate (DCP)/DPPC and positively charged stearylamine (SA)/DPPC mixed liposomes were used. BSA with negative charges adsorbed on negatively charged DPPG/DPPC mixed liposomes but did not adsorb on negatively charged DCP/DPPC and positively charged SA/DPPC mixed liposomes. Furthermore, the adsorption amount of BSA on the mixed DPPG/DPPC liposomes increased with increasing the mole fraction of DPPG in spite of a possible electrostatic repulsion between BSA and DPPG. Thus, the adsorption of BSA on liposomes was likely to be related to the hydrophobic interaction between BSA and liposomes. The microfluidity of liposomal bilayer membranes near the bilayer center decreased by the adsorption of BSA, while the permeability of liposomal bilayer membranes increased by the adsorption of BSA on liposomes. These results are considered to be due to that the adsorption of BSA brings about a phase separation in liposomes and that a temporary gap is consequently formed in the liposomal bilayer membranes, thereby the permeability of liposomal bilayer membranes increases by the adsorption of BSA.     

Alteration in the temperature-dependent content release property of thermosensitive liposomes in plasma

The effect of plasma components on the temperature-dependent content release property of thermosensitive liposomes has been described. Temperature-sensitive liposomes containing mitomycin C (MMC) were prepared from dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC liposomes) and a 7 : 3 mixture of DPPC and dipalmitoylophosphatidylglycerol (DPPC/DPPG liposomes). We defined in this study the difference in the content release between 38 degrees C and 44 degrees C as an index of the temperature-dependent content release efficiency (Delta% release). In the absence of rat plasma, the Delta% release of the DPPC liposomes and the DPPC/DPPG liposomes was 83% and 71%, respectively. However, when the release study was conducted with rat plasma, the Delta% release increased to about 96% for both liposomes. In addition, while the DPPC liposomes were destabilized by rat plasma below the gel-to-liquid crystalline phase transition temperature (T(m)), MMC leakage from the DPPC/DPPG liposomes below T(m) was suppressed by rat plasma. Moreover, the plasma protein binding onto lipid bilayer was concomitant with the gel-to-liquid crystalline phase transition and then enhanced the temperature-dependent release from the DPPC/DPPG liposomes. The possible mechanism of interaction between liposomes and plasma proteins, especially serum albumin, was discussed based on differential scanning calorimetry and protein binding experiments.     

Effects of lysozyme and bovine serum albumin on membrane characteristics of dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol liposomes

The effects of adsorption of two kinds of proteins on the membrane characteristics of liposomes were examined at pH 7.4 in terms of adsorption amounts of proteins on liposomes, penetrations of proteins into liposomal bilayer membranes, phase transition temperature, microviscosity and permeability of liposomal bilayer membranes, using positively charged lysozyme (LSZ) and negatively charged bovine serum albumin (BSA) as proteins and negatively charged L-alpha-dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol (DPPG) liposomes. The saturated adsorption amount of LSZ was 720 g per mol of liposomal DPPG, while that of BSA was 44 g per mol of liposomal DPPG. The penetration of LSZ into DPPG lipid membranes was greater than that of BSA. The microviscosity in the hydrophobic region of liposomal bilayer membranes increased due to adsorption (penetration) of LSZ or BSA, while the permeability of liposomal bilayer membranes increased. The gel-liquid crystalline phase transition temperature of liposomal bilayer membranes was not affected by adsorption of LSZ or BSA, while the DSC peak area (heat of phase transition) decreased with increasing adsorption amount of LSZ or BSA. It is suggested that boundary DPPG makes no contribution to the phase transition and that boundary DPPG and bulk DPPG are in the phase-separated state, thereby increasing the permeability of liposomal bilayer membranes through adsorption of LSZ or BSA. A possible schematic model for the adsorption of LSZ or BSA on DPPG liposomes was proposed.     

Solubilization of negatively charged DPPC/DPPG liposomes by bile salts

The interactions of the bile salts sodium cholate (NaC) and sodium deoxycholate (NaDC) in 0.1 M NaCl (pH 7.4) with membranes composed of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC), 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylglycerol (DPPG) and mixtures of DPPC and DPPG at molar ratios of 3:1 and 1:1 were studied by means of high-sensitivity isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The partition coefficients and the transfer enthalpies for the incorporation of bile salt molecules into the phospholipid membranes were determined by ITC. The vesicle-to-micelle transition was investigated by ITC, DLS, and DSC. The phase boundaries for the saturation of the vesicles and their complete solubilization established by ITC were in general agreement with DLS data, but systematic differences could be seen due to the difference in detected physical quantities. Electrostatic repulsion effects between the negatively charged bile salt molecules and the negatively charged membrane surfaces are not limiting factors for the vesicle-to-micelle transition. The membrane packing constraints of the phospholipid molecules and the associated spontaneous curvature of the vesicles play the dominant role. DPPG vesicles are transformed by the bile salts into mixed micelles more easily or similarly compared to DPPC vesicles. The saturation of mixed DPPC/DPPG vesicles requires less bile salt, but to induce the solubilization of the liposomes, significantly higher amounts of bile salt are needed compared to the concentrations required for the solubilization of the pure phospholipid systems. The different solubilization behavior of DPPC/DPPG liposomes compared to the pure liposomes could be due to a specific "extraction" of DPPG into the mixed micelles in the coexistence region.     

Membrane properties of cationic liposomes composed of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and dipalmityldimethylammonium bromide

Cationic liposomes composed of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and dipalmityldimethylammmonium bromide (DPAB) were prepared by the Bangham method and the effect of DPAB on the membrane properties was examined in terms of liposomal shape, particle size, trapping efficiency, surface potential and dispersibility. The dispersibility of the mixed DPPC/DPAB liposomes (the mole fraction of DPAB (X_DPAB)  0.05) was excellent and the dispersibility was maintained for 6 months, since the zeta-potential of the mixed liposomes was approximately +40 mV. The trapping efficiency of the mixed DPPC/DPAB liposomes (X_DPAB = 0.05) was 10 times greater than that of the DPPC liposomes, and the value was largest among the mixed liposomes (X_DPAB = 0–1.0). Freeze-fracture electron micrographs indicated that the shape of the mixed DPPC/DPAB liposomes (X_DPAB = 0.05) was that of large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) with a diameter of approximately 2 μm, while the shape of the DPPC liposomes was that of multilamellar vesicles (MLVs). The mixed liposomes had, therefore, a high trapping efficiency. Furthermore, the shape of the mixed DPPC/DPAB liposomes (X_DPAB = 0.75) was also that of LUVs with a diameter of approximately 2 μm and these had a high trapping efficiency. Whereas, the particle size (500 nm) of the mixed DPPC/DPAB liposomes (X_DPAB = 0.25) was smaller than that of the former and had the minimum trapping efficiency. The phase transition temperature of the liposomal bilayer membranes indicated a maximum value at 0.25–0.30 mole fractions of DPAB. These facts were considered to be due to the fact that DPPC and DPAB, whose molar ratio was 7.5:2.5, were tightly packed in the liposomal bilayer membranes and that the curvature of the liposomal particle was resultantly large. Nevertheless, LUVs having a high trapping efficiency were easily obtained by mixing a small amount of DPAB with the DPPC.     

The physicochemical/thermodynamic balance of advanced drug liposomal delivery systems

The aim of this work is to study the morphological characteristics via fractal analysis and the alterations of the thermotropic behavior of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposomes, caused by the incorporation of cholesterol, poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer, and MPOx (poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline)-grad-poly(2-phenyl-2-oxazoline)) gradient block copolymer (9:1 molar ratio). A gamut of light scattering techniques and differential scanning calorimetry were used in order to extract information on the morphological (in different dispersion media) and thermodynamic characteristics of liposomal drug nanocarriers, respectively. The vesicles’ structure of liposomes has a different thermodynamic content, which corresponds to a different thermotropic behavior, in comparison to pure lipid bilayers. The observed metastable phase only for DPPC liposomes has been considered as a “physical impurity”, which leads to “physical incompatibility” and consequently promotes the aggregation of DPPC liposomes in aqueous media. The incorporation of biomaterials such as PAMAM G4 and MPOx, caused alterations in the thermotropic behavior of DPPC liposomes affecting only the main transition specific enthalpy ΔH. All the other calorimetric parameters remained unaltered. These findings supported the hypothesis that the exceptional stability and transition cooperativity of the chimeric liposomal membrane might be due to the reduction of the vesicle size with the smaller membrane curvature that is indicated by the fractal dimensionality of the system. In conclusion, the results from the thermal analysis of the liposomal systems were in line with the picture of their structural characteristics, as indicated by the interplay between physicochemical and thermodynamical parameters, which determines their fractal morphology.     

Differential scanning calorimetry

This study was aimed to investigate the physicochemical changes induced in 200 nm extruded oligolamellar DPPC:DPPG (10:1) liposomes by freezing, followed by γ-irradiation, in the absence and presence of 5 mM stable cyclic nitroxide radicals, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (Tempo) and 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (Tempol). The characterization is based on the use of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and was aimed to differentiate the contribution of freezing and γ-irradiation in the presence and absence of nitroxides. Liposomal preparations of DPPC/DPPG which have sub-, pre- and main-phase transitions in the temperature range (0°C<T _m<50°C) were used. Our results show that: (1) freezing modified and induced fusion to MLV as well as fission to SUV, (2) freezing did not fully prevent the radiation-induced changes in the thermotropic characteristics of the liposomes, and (3) Tempo and Tempol did not prevent the changes in thermotropic behavior caused as a result of freezing of the liposomal dispersion. These results demonstrate that DSC is a powerful and sensitive tool in both physical and chemical studies of lipid assemblies. This work was supported in part by the Szold Foundation, Jerusalem, Israel and United State-Israel Binational Science Foundation (grant 95/318 to Y.B.).     

Electron spin resonance studies of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes containing soybean-derived sterylglucoside

The effects of soybean-derived sterylglucoside (SG) on the fluidity of liposomal membrane composed of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) were investigated compared with those of soybean-derived sterol (SS) and cholesterol (Ch) using an electron spin resonance spectrometer. Three kinds of liposomes were prepared in the molar ratio of DPPC/X=7/4, where X is SS, Ch or SG. The fluidity close to the polar head groups increased with an increase of temperature in the DPPC membrane containing SS, Ch and SG in the range 35 to 45 degrees C. Those near the hydrophobic end changed with an increase in temperature in liposomes containing SS, Ch and SG, which had a fluidizing effect on the DPPC membrane below the transition temperature (Tm, 41.9 degrees C) and a condensing effect over the Tm. The fluidizing effects of these compounds around 37 degrees C near the polar head group and the hydrophobic end increased in the following order: Ch < SG < or = SS and SS < Ch < SG, respectively. SG increased the fluidity of liposomal membrane dramatically above the Tm (35.4 degrees C). These results suggest that the high fluidity close to the hydrophobic end of the liposomal membranes around 37 degrees C, the decrease of Tm, and the sigmoidal nature of fluidity vs. temperature are important factors in the effectiveness of liposomes containing SG as a carrier of drugs.     

Membrane interactions of ternary phospholipid/cholesterol bilayers and encapsulation efficiencies of a RIP II protein

Membrane interactions of liposomes of ternary phospholipid/cholesterol bilayers are investigated. These interactions lead to discoidal deformations and regular aggregations and are strongly enhanced by the presence of mistletoe lectin (ML), a RIP II type protein. The encapsulation of ML into liposomal nanocapsules is studied with a systematic variation of the lipid composition to monitor its effect on the physical properties: entrapment, mean size, morphology, and stability. Extrusion of multilamellar vesicles through filters 80 nm pore size was used for the generation of liposomes. The mean sizes of liposomes ranged between 120 and 200 nm in diameter with narrow size distributions. The increase in flow rate with pressure for three dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC)/cholesterol (Chol)/dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) lipid mixtures was linear and allowed to extrapolate to the minimum burst pressure of the liposomal bilayers. From the minimum pressures P(min), the bilayer lysis tensions gamma(l) were determined. The increase in P(min) and gamma(l) with an increasing content of a saturated phosopholipid (DPPC) indicates that DPPC increases the mechanical strength of lipid bilayers. Apparently, DPPC, like cholesterol, leads to a less compressible surface and a more cohesive membrane. After preparation, vesicle solutions were purified by gel permeation chromatography to separate encapsulated ML from free ML in the extravesicular solution. Purified liposomes were then characterized. The content of entrapped and adsorbed ML was measured using ELISA. Repetitive freezing/thawing cycles prior to extrusion significantly increased ML uptake. On the contrary, adsorption was not affected neither by lipid composition, nor concentration and preparation. Differences in experimental encapsulation efficiency only reflect the differences in the mean vesicle sizes of the different samples as is revealed by a comparison to a theoretical estimate. Cryo-transmission electron microscopy (Cryo-TEM) images show that beside spherical, single-walled liposomes, there is a considerable fraction of discoidally deformed vesicles. Based on our results and those found in the literature, we speculate that the flattening of the vesicles is a consequence of lipid phase separation and the formation of condensed complexes and areas of different bending elasticities. This phenomenon eventually leads to agglomeration of deformed liposomal structures, becoming more pronounced with the increase in the relative amount of saturated fatty acids, presumably caused by hydrophobic interaction. For the same lipid mixture aggregation correlated linearly with the ML content. Finally, tested liposomal samples were kept at 4 degrees C to examine their stability. Only slight fluctuations in diameter and the increase in polydispersity after 3 weeks of storage occurred, with no statistically significant evidence of drug leakage during a time period of 12 days, illustrating physical stability of liposomes.     

Intracellular distribution of fluorescent probes delivered by vesicles of different lipidic composition

In order to study mechanisms involved in liposome–cell interaction, this work attempted to assess the influence of vesicle composition on the delivery of liposomal content to Hela cells. In particular, to evaluate pH-sensitive properties and cell interaction of the prepared liposomes, the lipid formulations contained cholesterol (Chol) and they were varied by using phosphatidylcholines with different purity degree: soy lecithin (SL; 80% phosphatidylcholine), a commercial mixture of soy phosphatidylcholine (P90; 90% phosphatidylcholine) or dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC; 99% of purity). A second series of liposomes also contained stearylamine (SA). Dehydration-rehydration vesicles (DRV) were prepared and then sonicated to decrease vesicle size. Vesicle–cell interactions and liposomal uptake were examined by fluorescence microscopy using carboxyfluorescein (CF) and phosphatidylethanolamine-dioleoyl-sulforhodamine B (Rho-PE) as fluorescent markers. Fluorescence dequenching assay was used to study the influence of pH on CF release from the liposomal formulations. Liposome adhesion on the cell surface and internalization were strongly dependent on vesicle bilayer composition. SA vesicles were not endocytosed. DPPC/Chol liposomes were endocytosed but did not release their fluorescent content into the cytosol. SL/Chol and P90/Chol formulations displayed a diffuse cytoplasmic fluorescence of liposomal marker.     

A DSC study of paeonol-encapsulated liposomes, comparison the effect of cholesterol and stigmasterol on the thermotropic phase behavior of liposomes

Thermotropic phase behaviors of paeonol-encapsulated liposomes containing stigmasterol or cholesterol have been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. We compared the thermotropic phase behavior of pure dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposomes, sterol/DPPC liposomes, and paeonol/sterol/DPPC liposomes increasing the ratio of paeonol to sterol from 0 to 1, by analyzing the calorimetric parameters of main phase transition of liposomes including phase transition temperature (onset temperature and peak temperature) and phase transition cooperativity. The results showed that paeonol could incorporate into the hydrophobic region of DPPC, thus, decrease phase transition temperature of DPPC. Though stigmasterol interacts with DPPC less favorably than cholesterol, thermotropic phase behavior of paeonol/cholesterol/DPPC liposomes and that of paeonol/stigmasterol/DPPC liposomes are very similar. A phase separation occurred when the molar ratio of paeonol to sterol reached 1:1 in paeonol-encapsulated liposomes, where a paeonol-rich domain coexisted with a sterol-rich domain. The packing order of acyl chains of DPPC in sterol-rich domain is a little higher than that in paeonol-rich domain.     

Effect of TRX-liposomes size on their prolonged circulation in rats

Newly formulated cationic liposomes (TRX-liposomes) with four different mean diameters were injected into twelve male rats via the lateral tail vein in order to evaluate the effect of liposomal size on pharmacokinetic parameters. TRX-liposomes disappeared from the blood according to the one-compartment model and demonstrated maximum and minimum half-lives of ca. 14 h (mean diameter of 114.3 nm) and ca. 5 h (mean diameter of 285.9 nm), respectively. This prolonged half-life tended to decrease at the boundary of 114.3 nm mean diameter. The optimal size (114.3 nm) for prolonged circulation of TRX-liposomes was consistent with that of pegylated liposomes such as Doxil((R)), however, the half-life was different among these liposomes. The electric charge of the TRX-liposomal surface is assumed to be responsible for this difference. The results of the present study will be very useful in the design of long-circulating cationic liposomes.     

膜材性质及制备方法调控下的脂质体负载干扰素的研究

依据干扰素(IFN)分子、磷脂分子本身的理化性质和结构特点, 分别用三种制备方法, 以四种脂质体为膜材, 制备IFN脂质体, 考察了不同膜材、不同制备方法对脂质体粒径及包封率的影响. 结果表明, 以二肉豆蔻酰胆碱和二棕榈酰磷脂酰胆碱复合材料为主要膜材, 采用薄膜蒸发法制备的IFN脂质体有良好的稳定性, 60 d内其粒径可以保持在200~350 nm, 包封率可保持30%~40%.     

Separation and quantitation of alkylphosphocholines and analogues of different liposome formulations by HPTLC

High-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) analysis of non UV-active phospholipids in biological matrixes is a common method for separation, detection, and quantitation. Liposomes containing new alkylphosphocholines and analogues with enhanced cytostatic activity had been prepared. The liposomal formulations were designed to enable the intravenous application of the alkylphosphocholines and analogues and to reduce dose-limiting toxicities observed after oral administration. For quality control the liposomes were analyzed by HPTLC for content of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol (DPPG), cholesterol, alkylphosphocholines, and analogues and their related compounds (main degradation products). Due to the differences in lipophily of the compounds, different mobile phases were necessary to achieve separation. Automated Multiple Development was used to reduce the number of plates and to improve the selectivity and the capacity of the chromatographic system to separate the described alkylphosphocholines and analogues from DPPG and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine in one chromatographic system.     

Effects of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain length of PEG-lipid on the permeability of liposomal bilayer membranes

The effects of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain length of PEG-lipid on the membrane characteristics of liposomes were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), freeze-fracture electron microscopy (FFEM), fluorescence polarization measurement and permeability measurement using carboxyfluorescein (CF). PEG-liposomes were prepared from mixtures of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and distearoyl phosphatidylethanolamines with covalently attached PEG molecular weights of 1000, 2000, 3000 and 5000 (DSPE-PEG). DSC and FFEM results showed that the addition of DSPE-PEG to DPPC in the preparation of liposomes caused the lateral phase separation both in the gel and liquid-crystalline states. The fluidity in the hydrocarbon region of liposomal bilayer membranes was not significantly changed by the addition of DSPE-PEG, while that in the interfacial region was markedly increased. From these results, it was anticipated that the CF leakage from PEG-liposomes is accelerated compared with DPPC liposomes. However, CF leakage from liposomes containing DSPE-PEG with a 0.060 mol fraction was depressed compared with regular liposomes, and the leakage decreased with increasing PEG chain length. Furthermore, the CF leakage from liposomes containing DSPE-PEG with a 0.145 mol fraction was slightly increased compared with that of liposomes containing DSPE-PEG with a 0.060 mol fraction. It is suggested that the solute permeability from the PEG-liposomes was affected by not only properties of the liposomal bilayer membranes such as phase transition temperature, phase separation and membrane fluidity, but also the PEG chain of the liposomal surface.     

Hepatitis A Synthetic Peptide VP3(110-121) Miscibility with Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, Dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol, and Stearylamine Monolayers

To prepare liposomes containing a synthetic hepatitis A virus antigen (HAV) [VP3(110-121)] as a vaccine, the miscibility of this peptide (with negative net charge) with a neutral lipid [dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC)], a negatively charged lipid [dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol (DPPG)], and a positively charged lipid [Stearylamine (SA)] was studied through compression isotherms of monolayers. Mixtures with DPPC and SA showed a low degree of interaction with the peptide, the composition of the monolayer being stable through compression. For DPPG-containing monolayers larger positive deviations from ideality were found, and the peptide was squeezed out from the monolayer at a DPPG/VP3(110-121) mole fraction of 0.8/0.2. All this suggests that besides hydrophobic interactions between the peptide and the lipid, electrostatic forces also play a role; thus it seems that neutral and positively charged lipids would be more suitable for preparing stable liposomes with VP3(110-121). Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Ghrelin–liposome interactions: Characterization of liposomal formulations of an acylated 28‐amino acid peptide using CE

Ghrelin is a pharmacologically interesting peptide hormone due to its effects on appetite and metabolism. The cationic, octanoylated 28 amino acid peptide has a short biological half‐life; thus, prolonged release formulations are of interest. Acylated peptides have been suggested to bind to or be incorporated into liposomes. Formulations based on neutral dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposomes and phosphatidylcholine:cholesterol (70:30 mol%) liposomes, and negatively charged dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine:dipalmitoylphosphatidylserine (DPPC:DPPS) (70:30 mol%) liposomes (2 mM total lipid concentration) were characterized using ACE. Pre‐equilibrium CZE and frontal analysis CE methods circumventing capillary wall adsorption of the peptide and the liposomes and suitable for characterizing ghrelin–liposome interactions were developed. The cationic peptide exhibited low affinity (<10% bound) for DPPC and phosphatidylcholine:cholesterol (70:30 mol%) liposomes whereas electrostatic interactions caused a higher affinity for DPPC:DPPS (70:30 mol%) liposomes. Studies on desacyl ghrelin instead of ghrelin demonstrated the significance of the n‐octanoyl side chain as an affinity providing moiety towards DPPC:DPPS liposomes (48 and 73% bound peptide, respectively). CE experiments showed that the binding was characterized by rapid dissociation kinetics.     

Targeted drug delivery utilizing protein-like molecular architecture

Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems (nanoDDSs) have seen recent popularity due to their favorable physical, chemical, and biological properties, and great efforts have been made to target nanoDDSs to specific cellular receptors. CD44/chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) is among the receptors overexpressed in metastatic melanoma, and the sequence to which it binds within the type IV collagen triple-helix has been identified. A triple-helical "peptide-amphiphile" (alpha1(IV)1263-1277 PA), which binds CD44/CSPG, has been constructed and incorporated into liposomes of differing lipid compositions. Liposomes containing distearoyl phosphatidylcholine (DSPC) as the major bilayer component, in combination with distearoyl phosphatidylglycerol (DSPG) and cholesterol, were more stable than analogous liposomes containing dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) instead of DSPC. When dilauroyl phosphatidylcholine (DLPC):DSPG:cholesterol liposomes were prepared, monotectic behavior was observed. The presence of the alpha1(IV)1263-1277 PA conferred greater stability to the DPPC liposomal systems and did not affect the stability of the DSPC liposomes. A positive correlation was observed for cellular fluorophore delivery by the alpha1(IV)1263-1277 PA liposomes and CD44/CSPG receptor content in metastatic melanoma and fibroblast cell lines. Conversely, nontargeted liposomes delivered minimal fluorophore to these cells regardless of the CD44/CSPG receptor content. When metastatic melanoma cells and fibroblasts were treated with exogeneous alpha1(IV)1263-1277, prior to incubation with alpha1(IV)1263-1277 PA liposomes, to potentially disrupt receptor/liposome interactions, a dose-dependent decrease in the amount of fluorophore delivered was observed. Overall, our results suggest that PA-targeted liposomes can be constructed and rationally fine-tuned for drug delivery applications based on lipid composition. The selectivity of alpha1(IV)1263-1277 PA liposomes for CD44/CSPG-containing cells represents a targeted-nanoDDS with potential for further development and application.     

Utilization of heavy-atom effect quenching of pyrene fluorescence to determine the intramembrane distribution of halothane

The interaction of halothane (CF₃CHBrCl) with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) membranes containing varying amounts of dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol (DPPG) was examined via heavy atom effect quenching of pyrene fluorescence by halothane. The effect of halothane on pyrene fluorescence is consistent with a kinetic model based upon the assumption of the existence of two populations of pyrene in the membrane: one accessible to interactions with halothane; the second inaccessible to halothane on the time scale of the pyrene fluorescence excited state. Both populations of pyrene are affected by the presence of halothane in the membrane. The rate of halothane quenching of pyrene fluorescence is increased significantly for all DPPG/DPPC membranes compared to pure DPPC membranes indicating that any DPPG in the membrane facilitates interaction between halothane and pyrene even though the measured partition coefficients indicate that little change in total halothane concentration in the membrane as a whole occurs as a function of percent DPPG in DPPG/DPPC mixtures.
It is speculated that phase boundaries play an important role in determining the behavior of this model system by determining the location of the pyrene probe. The heavy atom effect quenching of pyrene by halothane provides a useful probe of phase boundaries in membranes.     

Preparation of liposomes containing Ceramide 3 and their membrane characteristics

Liposomes composed of Ceramide 3, [2S,3S,4R-2-stearoylamide-1,3,4-octadecanetriol], and L-alpha-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) were prepared by varying the amount of Ceramide 3, and the effects of Ceramide 3 on the liposome formation, particle size, dispersibility, microviscosity and phase transition temperature were examined by means of a microscopy, a dynamic light scattering method, a fluorescence polarization method, a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and so on. All the DPPC was able to contribute to the formation of liposomes up to 0.130 mol fraction of Ceramide 3. The particle size of liposomes was almost unaffected by the addition of Ceramide 3. The dispersibility of liposomes containing Ceramide 3 was maintained for at least 15 days. The microviscosity of liposomal bilayer membranes in the liquid crystalline state was increased with increasing the mole fraction of Ceramide 3, while that in the gel state was independent of the mole fraction of Ceramide 3. The phase transition temperature from gel to liquid crystalline states of DPPC bilayer membranes was shifted upwards with the addition of Ceramide 3, indicating a cooperative interaction between DPPC and Ceramide 3 molecules. However, a sharp DSC peak became broad and split at higher mole fractions of Ceramide 3, suggesting a phase separation in the mixed DPPC/Ceramide 3 liposomal bilayer membranes. These phenomena were suggested to be related to the previously observed fact for the mixed DPPC/Ceramide 3 monolayers that Ceramide 3 interacts with DPPC in the liquid-expanded phase with consequent phase separation accompanied with domain formation.