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Non-phospholipid fusogenic liposomes
M El Baraka1, E I Pécheur, D F Wallach
1URA CNRS 1856, Dynamique Moléculaire des Interactions Membranaires, Université Montpellier II, Place Eugène Bataillon, Montpellier, France.
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|April 3, 1996
Summary
Non-phospholipid liposomes effectively fuse with cell membranes, enabling content mixing. This discovery advances understanding of liposome interactions and potential applications in drug delivery.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Liposomes are crucial for drug delivery, but their fusion capabilities with various membranes are not fully understood.
- Non-phospholipid liposomes offer alternative structures for membrane interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the fusion capacity of non-phospholipid liposomes with phospholipid membranes.
- To characterize the extent and mechanisms of fusion between different liposome types and cell membranes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized phase-contrast and freeze-fracture electron microscopy to visualize fusion.
- Employed macromolecular and fluorescence probes (e.g., FRET, NBD-PE, Lissamine-PE) to assess content and lipid mixing.
- Quantified fusion extent using terbium/dipicolinate assay and fluorescence measurements.
Main Results:
- Non-phospholipid liposomes demonstrated fusion with erythrocyte and fibroblast plasma membranes.
- Confirmed fusion between phosphatidylcholine liposomes and non-phospholipid liposomes.
- Quantified membrane fusion extent between 25% and 64% using multiple probe techniques.
Conclusions:
- Non-phospholipid liposomes, particularly those with dioxyethylene acyl ethers and cholesterol, can fuse with phospholipid membranes.
- Fusion involves both internal content and lipid component mixing.
- These findings support the potential of non-phospholipid liposomes in biological applications.