Triggered release of aqueous content from liposome-derived sol-gel nanocapsules

Liposomes prepared from a mixture of L-alpha-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and the PEGilated phospholipid N-(carbonylmethoxypoly(ethylene glycol 2000))-1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine were used as templates for the production of silica and alkylated silica approximately 100 nm capsules, "liposils", entrapping aqueous solutions of anionic dyes. Triggered release of this content was successfully affected by either low-frequency ultrasound or by microwave treatments. Cryo-TEM was used to follow the formation process of these particles, which are aggregated in a chain-like manner. A mechanism explaining this phenomenon is suggested.