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Lipid Exchange Assay in Living Cells
Published on: March 21, 2025
Competitive binding of nile red between lipids and β-cyclodextrin
Barnali Jana1, Saptarshi Ghosh, Nitin Chattopadhyay
1Department of Chemistry, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700 032, India.
Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. B, Biology
|July 23, 2013
Summary
Nile red dye interactions with lipids like DMPG and DMPC were studied. Beta-cyclodextrin disrupts these interactions, potentially aiding in removing excess Nile Red from cell walls.
Area of Science:
- Biophysical Chemistry
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Lipids are crucial components of cell membranes.
- Nile Red is a fluorescent probe used to study lipid interactions.
- Beta-cyclodextrin forms inclusion complexes with various molecules.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the binding interactions of Nile Red with anionic (DMPG) and zwitterionic (DMPC) lipids.
- To determine the effect of beta-cyclodextrin on Nile Red-lipid interactions.
- To explore potential applications in removing excess probe molecules from lipid environments.
Main Methods:
- Fluorometric measurements
- Steady-state fluorescence and fluorescence anisotropy studies
- Micropolarity, quenching, and time-resolved experiments
Main Results:
- High and comparable binding constants were observed between Nile Red and both DMPG and DMPC.
- Beta-cyclodextrin addition weakened Nile Red-lipid interactions.
- Nile Red molecules were removed from lipid environments due to probe-beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complex formation, with greater removal from DMPG than DMPC.
Conclusions:
- Competitive binding between Nile Red and beta-cyclodextrin influences probe localization.
- The findings provide a foundation for removing excess Nile Red adsorbed on cell walls.
- Understanding these interactions is relevant for cell membrane studies and probe removal strategies.

