Hepatitis A Synthetic Peptide VP3(110-121) Miscibility with Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine,...

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.