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The captured volume of multilamellar vesicles
W R Perkins1, S R Minchey, M J Ostro
1The Liposome Company, Princeton, NJ.
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|August 4, 1988
Summary
Researchers found that traditional methods for measuring lipid vesicle volume were inaccurate. Using solvent instead of solute revealed significantly larger captured volumes in multilamellar lipid vesicles (MLVs).
Area of Science:
- Lipid Nanoparticle Formulation
- Physical Chemistry of Vesicles
Background:
- Classical methods for measuring multilamellar lipid vesicle (MLV) captured volume rely on solute markers.
- Solute exclusion during MLV formation leads to underestimation of the actual aqueous volume.
- Accurate volume determination is crucial for understanding vesicle properties and applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-evaluate the captured volume of hand-shaken MLVs.
- To investigate the influence of lipid concentration on MLV lamellarity and volume.
- To establish a more accurate method for assessing vesicle encapsulation capacity.
Main Methods:
- Characterization of hand-shaken MLVs using solvent-based volume determination.
- Analysis of lamellarity and captured volume profiles.
- Varying lipid concentrations during vesicle hydration.
Main Results:
- Hand-shaken MLVs were confirmed to exclude solute during formation.
- Solvent-based measurements yielded MLV captured volumes at least double previous estimates.
- Captured volume and lamellarity were found to be dependent on initial lipid concentration.
Conclusions:
- Previous measurements of MLV captured volume are likely underestimated due to solute exclusion.
- Solvent-based methods provide a more accurate assessment of MLV aqueous space.
- Lipid concentration during hydration is a critical factor in controlling MLV characteristics.