[Interaction of liposomes with vascular endothelial cells]

Confluent monolayers (3 days old) of cultured calf aortic endothelial cells (line BKEz-7) were incubated for 30, 60 or 120 min with liposomes (reverse-phase evaporation vesicles) in order to investigate by electron microscopy whether and how they interact. This study demonstrates such interactions on a large scale. Electron micrographs show different ways by which liposomes interact with vascular endothelial cells. The observed mechanisms are adsorption, fusion, endocytosis and a transcellular passage of intact liposomes.