Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026
00:11
Preparation and Characterization of Nanoliposomes for the Entrapment of Bioactive Hydrophilic Globular Proteins
Published on: August 31, 2019
23.6K
Modification of Liposomal Properties by an Engineered Gemini Surfactant.
Ala'a F Eftaiha1,2,3, Buti Suryabrahmam2,3, Nicholas B Morris2,3
1Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, The Hashemite University, Zarqa 13133, Jordan.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|January 25, 2025
Summary
Nicotinic-acid-based gemini surfactants (NAGS) alter liposomal membrane structure by reducing thickness and promoting domain formation. This chemical tuning offers new possibilities for drug delivery and biomedical imaging applications.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry and Biophysics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Lipid membranes are crucial for cellular functions and various technological applications.
- Modifying lipid membranes with additives can significantly impact biological processes and practical uses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate a nicotinic-acid-based gemini surfactant (NAGS) as a tunable additive for modulating liposomal membrane structure and phase behavior.
- To understand the effects of headgroup interactions and chain mismatch between NAGS and membrane lipids.
Main Methods:
- Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to analyze membrane thickness and packing density.
- Fluorescence microscopy to observe domain formation and stabilization.
Main Results:
- NAGS reduced the thickness and packing density of fluid lipid membranes, irrespective of chain compatibility.
- Ordered-disordered domains emerged upon cooling, driven by NAGS headgroup chemistry.
- Observed phases differed significantly from lipid membranes without NAGS.
Conclusions:
- NAGS effectively modulates liposomal membrane structure and phase behavior.
- Headgroup chemistry of NAGS plays a critical role in domain formation.
- Findings suggest potential applications for NAGS in drug delivery and biomedical imaging.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Surface Active Agents
Surfactants, named for their behavior at interfaces, positively adsorb at the interfaces of two phases, reducing interfacial tension. Their versatility as emulsifiers, detergents, and foaming agents stems from this ability. Surfactants, often termed amphiphiles, share the property of amphipathy, with molecules having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic portions. The hydrophilic part is called the head, and the hydrophobic part, including an elongated alkyl substituent, forms the tail.Surfactants...
01:30Micelles
Micelle formation is an intricate process that hinges on the properties of amphiphilic or amphipathic molecules and the conditions of the system in which they are found. Amphiphilic molecules, which have both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) parts, play a critical role in this process.In aqueous environments, these molecules arrange themselves such that their hydrophilic heads are turned towards the water phase, while their hydrophobic tails are oriented away...
01:27Bioavailability Enhancement: Drug Permeability Enhancement
After oral administration, poor permeability often limits the rate at which drugs are absorbed through the intestinal epithelium. Enhancing drug permeability is crucial for effective therapy, and several strategies have been developed to overcome this challenge.One effective strategy involves the use of lipid-based formulations. These formulations enhance dissolution and solubility, targeting physiological mechanisms to increase drug absorption. This includes stimulating bile salt secretion,...