Interactions of small molecules with phospholipids in inverted micelles

NMR spectroscopy has been employed to study the effect of the presence of perturbing species in the internal aqueous cavity of inverted micelles. The perturbing species alter the dynamic behaviour and the relative amounts of the two water populations existing inside the micelles. Cross relaxation involving water plays an essential role in determining the relaxation rates in these systems.     

Interactions of hydrophobically modified polyvinylamine with pluronic triblock copolymer micelles

The heats associated with the addition of triblock copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide (PEO-PPO-PEO pluronics) to solutions of linear polyvinylamine, with N-substituted pendant octyl groups (HMPVAm), were measured as functions of pH and pluronic structure. The interactions were exothermic with the overall enthalpy decreasing with increasing pH from 5 to 10. Surprisingly, the heat effect increased with increasing pluronic hydrophilicity; however, no enthalpy change was observed in the absence of micelles. The results were quantitatively modeled by assuming two competing processes-micellar dissolution and HMPVAm coating of micelles, preventing dissolution.     

Interactions of lipases with lipid monolayers. Facts and questions

Among the proteins, lipolytic enzymes provide a valuable model for studying protein-lipid interactions. Lipases having a catalytic action which is strictly dependent upon the presence of a lipid interface were used in the present study in order to gain better insight into protein-lipid interactions. Most of the data presented here were obtained using the monolayer technique, by recording (either independently or simultaneously) the lipolytic activity, the amount of protein adsorbed to the lipid monolayer, and the surface pressure variations following protein adsorption. Several non-enzymatic proteins were used as controls in order to determine how lipase behaviour differs from that of other proteins. At all initial surface pressures tested, with zwitterionic monolayers, a good correlation was observed between the amount of lipase bound to the monolayer and the surface pressure increase, in agreement with previous studies. Conversely, with neutral lipid monolayers the amount of lipase bound to the monolayer was not found to be surface pressure dependent. This latter behaviour observed with lipases on neutral films is not specific to lipases, since it was also observed with bovine serum albumin and beta-lactoglobulin A. Lipase activity in the presence of various proteins was investigated with monomolecular films of glycerol didecanoate, either at constant surface area or at constant surface pressure. Depending upon the nature of the lipase and the protein, inhibition of lipase activity was either observed or not. Inhibition was correlated with a decrease in lipase surface concentration. The ability of the various proteins to inhibit lipolysis is: (i) a function of their excess versus lipase in the bulk phase, and: (ii) correlated with their penetration capacity (i.e., the initial rate of surface pressure increase of a glycerol didecanoate monolayer having an initial surface pressure of 20 dyn/cm, after the injection-of the protein). Since lipase inhibition was observed with low surface densities of inhibitory proteins, a long-range effect is probably involved in the mechanism of interfacial lipase inhibition. The nature of the ionic charge added to the monolayer by the protein is not critical for determining lipase adsorption or desorption. It is hypothesized that the lack of lipase adsorption to, or desorption from, the lipid monolayer results from a change in the organization of the hydrocarbon moiety of the lipid.     

Interactions of amphiphilic block copolymers with lipid model membranes

Studies on interactions between amphiphilic block copolymers and lipid membranes have been focused traditionally on ABA triblock copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide), widely due to their commercial availability. However, new architectures of amphiphilic block copolymer have been synthesized in recent years partially taking advantage of new polymerization techniques. This review focuses on amphiphilic block copolymers with potential biological activity and on model membrane systems used for studying interactions with such block copolymers. Experimental methods to study block copolymer–phospholipid interactions in Langmuir monolayers, liposomes, and planar bilayers are summarized. This work is intended to convey a better understanding of amphiphilic block copolymers used for in vitro and in vivo experiments in medicine and pharmacy. Recent developments and open questions are addressed.     

Bioorganic synthesis in reverse micelles and related systems

Reverse micelles (or w/o microemulsions) have found wide applications in enzymology, protein chemistry and other areas assisting in a variety of biotransformations. Being considered as an individual ‘nanobioreactors’ these systems allow one to reveal or to add new properties to biocatalysts.     

Mixed micelles of structurally related antidepressant drugs

 The composition of micelles in a binary mixture of the amphiphilic antidepressant drugs imipramine hydrochloride and clomipramine hydrochloride has been determined from an analysis of the variation of the critical micelle concentration from conductivity techniques as a function of solution composition. The equilibrium distribution of components between micelle and monomer phases was evaluated using a theoretical treatment based on excess thermo-dynamic quantities. The nonideality of mixing, expressed in terms of the interaction parameter β, was appreciable in systems containing low imipramine mole fractions, suggesting differences in the packing characteristics within micelles of these two drugs. Received: 7 July 1997 Accepted: 10 August 1997     

Interactions between cationic mixed micelles and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)

 The conductances of trimethyltetradecylammonium bromide (TTAB) + trimethylhexa decylammonium bromide (HTAB) and TTAB + trimethyldodecylammonium bromide (DTAB) mixtures over the entire mole fraction range were measured in aqueous poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) containing 1–10 wt% PVP at 30 °C. Each conductivity (κ) curve for the TTAB + HTAB mixtures showed two breaks corresponding to two aggregation processes over the whole mole fraction range, except in the case of pure TTAB, where a single break corresponding to the conventional critical micelle concentration (cmc) was observed. In the case of TTAB + DTAB mixtures, each κ curve at a particular mole fraction of TTAB showed only one break, which was quite close to a similar one in pure water. In TTAB + HTAB mixtures, the first break is called the critical aggregation concentration. It is close to the conventional cmc and is attributed to the polymer-free micelle formation, whereas the second break is due to the polymer-bound micellar aggregates. However, no polymer-bound micellar aggregation process was observed in the case of TTAB + DTAB mixtures. Therefore, the presence of micelle–PVP interactions in the TTAB + HTAB case have been attributed to the stronger hydrophobicity of HTAB or TTAB + HTAB micelles in comparison to that of single or mixed micelles of TTAB + DTAB mixtures. From the conductivity data, various micelle parameters in the presence of PVP have been computed and discussed in terms of micelle–polymer interactions. The mixing behavior of TTAB +  HTAB corresponding to the first break, and that of TTAB + DTAB mixtures in the presence of PVP, is close to ideal and is also identical to that in pure water. Received: 26 August 1999 Accepted: 6 November 1999     

Interactions of a hydrophobically modified polycation with zwitterionic lipid membranes

The interactions between synthetic polycations and phospholipid bilayers play an important role in some biophysical applications such as gene delivery or antibacterial usage. Despite extensive investigation into the nature of these interactions, their physical and molecular bases remain poorly understood. In this Article, we present the results of our studies on the impact of a hydrophobically modified strong polycation on the properties of a zwitterionic bilayer used as a model of the mammalian cellular membrane. The study was carried out using a set of complementary experimental methods and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations. A new polycation, poly(allyl-N,N-dimethyl-N-hexylammonium chloride) (polymer 3), was synthesized, and its interactions with liposomes composed of 2-oleoyl-1-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) were examined using dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential measurements, and cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). Our results have shown that polymer 3 can efficiently associate with and insert into the POPC membrane. However, it does not change its lamellar structure, as was demonstrated by cryo-TEM. The influence of polymer 3 on the membrane functionality was studied by leakage experiments applying a fluorescence dye (calcein) encapsulated in the phospholipid vesicles. The MD simulations of model systems reveal that polymer 3 promotes formation of hydrophilic pores in the membrane, thus increasing considerably its permeability.     

Synthesis of robustin and related 4-hydroxy-3-phenyl coumarins and isoflavones

Robustin (31a) occurring in the roots of Derris robusta has been synthesised from mono-O-methylphloroglucinol (20) as follows. Hoesch condensation with homopiperonitrile (21) gave 2,4-dihydroxy-6-methoxyphenyl 3,4-methylenedioxybenzyl ketone (22) which on reaction with 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-butene in the presence of borontrifluoride-etherate afforded 5-C-(24) and 3-C-(23) prenyl derivatives. These on cyclodehydrogenation with DDQ followed by coumarin condensation with ethyl chloroformate yielded robustin (31a) and isorobustin (32) respectively. Model experiments with nuclear prenylation of 2,4-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-phenyl benzyl ketone (1), followed by oxidative cyclisation and either courmarin or isoflavone condensation have yielded new isopentenylated 4-hydroxy-3-phenylcourarins or isoflavones.     

Interactions in lipid stabilised foam films

The interaction between lipid bilayers in water has been intensively studied over the last decades. Osmotic stress was applied to evaluate the forces between two approaching lipid bilayers in aqueous solution. The force–distance relation between lipid mono- or bilayers deposited on mica sheets using a surface force apparatus (SFA) was also measured. Lipid stabilised foam films offer another possibility to study the interactions between lipid monolayers. These films can be prepared comparatively easy with very good reproducibility. Foam films consist usually of two adsorbed surfactant monolayers separated by a layer of the aqueous solution from which the film is created. Their thickness can be conveniently measured using microinterferometric techniques. Studies with foam films deliver valuable information on the interactions between lipid membranes and especially their stability and permeability. Presenting inverse black lipid membrane (BLM) foam films supply information about the properties of the lipid self-organisation in bilayers. The present paper summarises results on microscopic lipid stabilised foam films by measuring their thickness and contact angle. Most of the presented results concern foam films prepared from dispersions of the zwitterionic lipid 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine (DMPC) and some of its mixtures with the anionic lipid — 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-[phospho-rac-(1-glycerol)] (DMPG).     

Interactions between an anticancer drug and polymeric micelles based on biodegradable polyesters

Interactions between the anticancer drug quercetin and biodegradable polyesters within micelles were investigated by DSC, WAXD, and UV analyses. For micelles based on poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether-block-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (MPEG-PCL), DSC analysis indicated that the interactions were between the hydrophobic core and the drug within the micelle. For micelles based on poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether-block-poly(L-lactide) (MPEG-PLLA), the interactions were between the hydrophobic core and the drug and between hydrophilic segments and the drug. WAXD results indicated that no crystalline phase of the drug was found in either of the micelle types. Based on the DSC and WAXD results, two probable micelle structures were proposed. The UV spectra revealed the presence of hydrogen bonding as the main interaction between the drug and the polyesters. In vitro studies demonstrated that quercetin release from micelles was sustained and was affected by the polymer-drug interaction.     

Structure of mixed micelles formed in PEG-lipid/lipid dispersions

Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-conjugated lipids are commonly employed for steric stabilization of liposomes. When added in high concentrations PEG-lipids induce formation of mixed micelles, and depending on the lipid composition of the sample, these may adapt either a discoidal or a long threadlike shape. The factors governing the type of micellar aggregate formed have so far not been investigated in detail. In this study we have systematically varied the lipid composition in lipid/PEG-lipid mixtures and characterized the aggregate structure by means of cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). The effects caused by adding sterols, phosphatidylethanolamines, and phospholipids with saturated acyl chains to egg phosphatidylcholine/1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylethanolamine-N-[methoxy(polyethylene glycol)-2000 (EPC/DSPE-PEG2000) mixtures with a fixed amount (25 mol %) of DSPE-PEG2000 was studied. Further, the aggregate structure in 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine/1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylethanolamine-N-[methoxy(polyethylene glycol)-2000] (DMPC/DMPE-PEG2000) samples above and below the gel to liquid crystalline phase transition temperature (TC) was investigated. Our results revealed that lipid components, as well as environmental conditions, that reduce the lipid spontaneous curvature and increase the monolayer bending modulus tend to promote formation of discoidal micelles. At temperatures below the gel-to-liquid crystalline phase transition temperature reduced lipid/PEG-lipid miscibility, furthermore, likely contribute to the observed formation of discoidal rather than threadlike micelles.     

Interactions of lipid bilayers with supports: a coarse-grained molecular simulation study

The study of lipid structure and phase behavior at the nanoscale is of utmost importance due to implications in understanding the role of the lipids in biochemical membrane processes. Supported lipid bilayers play a key role in understanding real biological systems, but they are vastly underrepresented in computational studies. In this paper, we discuss molecular dynamics simulations of supported lipid bilayers using a coarse-grained model. We first focus on the technical implications of modeling solid supports for biomembrane simulations. We then describe noticeable influences of the support on the systems. We are able to demonstrate that the bilayer system behavior changes when supported by a hydrophilic surface. We find that the thickness of the water layer between the support and the bilayer (the inner-water region in the latter part of this paper) adapts through water permeation on the microsecond time scale. Additionally, we discuss how different surface topologies affect the bilayer. Finally, we point out the differences between the two leaflets induced by the support.     

Interactions between local anesthetics and lipid dispersions studied with liposome electrokinetic capillary chromatography

In the case of local anesthetic intoxication, intravenous administration of lipid-based Intralipid dispersion (Fresenius Kabi) can be used for the entrapment of hydrophobic drugs. Our long-term aim is to develop a sensitive, efficient, and non-harmful lipid-based formulation to specifically trap harmful substances. In this study liposome electrokinetic capillary chromatography (LEKC) was used to study the interactions between local anesthetics and Intralipid or liposome dispersions. Intralipid dispersion and extruded liposomes with different concentrations of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleyl-sn-glycerophosphatidylcholine (POPC), phosphatidylglycerol, cardiolipin, cholesterol, oleic acid, and linoleic acid were used as a pseudostationary phase in LEKC and their interactions with lidocaine, prilocaine, and bupivacaine were studied. POPC liposomes containing 1 mol% of palmitoyl-2-[12-[(7-nitro-2-1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl)amino]dodecanoyl]-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine as a fluorescent marker were used for the first time in LEKC connected with laser-induced fluorescent detection in order to calculate the retention factor for anesthetics.     

Interactions between polysaccharides uronic acid sequences and lipid molecules

Homogalacturonic and homoglucuronic acid sequences, with various molecular weights and corresponding monomer, were mixed with cholesterol or linolenic acid in controlled conditions (pH, temperature, concentration), then studied by ¹H and ¹³C NMR. The variation of ¹³C NMR chemical shifts showed the formation of interactions between cholesterol or linolenic acid and carbohydrate sequences depending the molecular weight. Galacturonic acid sequences revealed to be more suitable than glucuronic acid sequences to entrap cholesterol or linolenic acid molecules probably due to the difference of conformation of the two molecules.     

Interactions of unconjugated bilirubin with vesicles,cyclodextrins and micelles: New modeling and the role of high pKa values

Background

Unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) is an unstable substance with very low aqueous solubility. Its aqueous pKa values affect many of its interactions, particularly their pH-dependence. A companion paper shows that only our prior solvent partition studies, leading to pKa values of 8.12 and 8.44, met all essential requirements for valid pKa determinations. Other published values, generally lower, some below 5.0, were shown to be invalid. The present work was designed to derive suitable models for interpreting published data on the pH-dependent binding of UCB with four agents, mentioned below, chosen because they are not, themselves, sensitive to changes in the pH range 4-10, and the data, mainly spectrometric, were of reasonable quality.

Results

These analyses indicated that the high pKa values, dianion dimerization constant and solubilities of UCB at various pH values, derived from our partition studies, along with literature-derived pH- and time-dependent supersaturation effects, were essential for constructing useful models that showed good qualitative, and sometimes quantitative, fits with the data. In contrast, published pKa values below 5.0 were highly incompatible with the data for all systems considered. The primary species of bound UCB in our models were: undissociated diacid for phosphatidylcholine, dianion for dodecyl maltoside micelles and cyclodextrins, and both monoanions and dianion for sodium taurocholate. The resulting binding versus pH profiles differed strikingly from each other.

Conclusions

The insights derived from these analyses should be helpful to explore and interpret UCB binding to more complex, pH-sensitive, physiological moieties, such as proteins or membranes, in order to understand its functions.

     

Interactions between denatured milk serum proteins and casein micelles studied by diffusing wave spectroscopy

The acid-induced aggregation of casein micelles from milk, in the presence of different whey protein preparations from heated and unheated milk, has been studied using diffusing wave spectroscopy (DWS). In particular, the study focused on the turbidity (or l*) parameter obtainable from DWS, which can give information on the interactions between particles in aggregating systems. The experiments provided evidence that the presence of small, soluble, whey protein/kappa-casein aggregates derived from heated milk gave rise to interactions with both heated and unheated casein micelles over a pH range of 5.6 down to 5.2. Comparison of heated and unheated milks, together with milks whose sera had been exchanged, showed that direct interactions were indeed occurring, even between untreated casein micelles and soluble whey protein complexes. Comparison of the behavior of the whey protein aggregates in emulsion preparations where they could not interact with the large particles confirmed that the effect was specific to the presence of casein micelles and could not arise simply from the aggregation of the whey proteins themselves.     

Interactions of ibuprofen with hybrid lipid bilayers probed by complementary surface-enhanced vibrational spectroscopies

The incorporation of small molecules into lipid bilayers is a process of biological importance and clinical relevance that can change the material properties of cell membranes and cause deleterious side effects for certain drugs. Here we report the direct observation, using surface-enhanced Raman and IR spectroscopies (SERS, SEIRA), of the insertion of ibuprofen molecules into hybrid lipid bilayers. The alkanethiol-phospholipid hybrid bilayers were formed onto gold nanoshells by self-assembly, where the underlying nanoshell substrates provided the necessary enhancements for SERS and SEIRA. The spectroscopic data reveal specific interactions between ibuprofen and phospholipid moieties and indicate that the overall hydrophobicity of ibuprofen plays an important role in its intercalation in these membrane mimics.