Factors affecting the size distribution of liposomes produced by freeze-thaw extrusion

This paper describes the development of a protocol for the production of liposomes using a freeze-thaw extrusion methodology. Laser diffraction particle size analysis showed that the median diameter of freeze-thawed egg phosphatidylcholine multilamellar vesicles (eggPC MLVs) was increased when cholesterol was included in the bilayers. Using a freeze-thaw cycle of 3 min freezing in liquid nitrogen at -196 degrees C followed by 3 min thawing at 50 degrees C resulted in an anomalously large particle size for eggPC/cholesterol formulations. When liposomes were repeatedly freeze-thawed a maximum size was achieved after five freeze-thaw cycles. Dispersion of liposomes in sodium chloride solutions promoted size increases following freeze-thawing, suggesting that vesicles had aggregated or fused. Poloxamers P338 and P407 inhibited the size increases observed during freeze-thawing for eggPC MLVs dispersed in 1.0 M NaCl, probably through steric prevention of aggregation and fusion.