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Updated: Sep 27, 2026

Lipid Exchange Assay in Living Cells
Published on: March 21, 2025
[Interaction between insulin with liposome]
Xuan Zhang1, Xian-rong Qi, Qiang Zhang
1School of Pharmaceutical Science, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China.
Insights
This study investigated insulin and liposome interactions using spectroscopy and calorimetry. Results reveal a weak interaction between insulin and liposomes, with only 0.2% combination observed.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Physical Chemistry
- Drug Delivery Systems
Context:
- Liposomes are widely used as drug delivery vehicles.
- Understanding drug-carrier interactions is crucial for optimizing delivery efficacy.
- Insulin delivery faces challenges due to its nature and potential interactions with carriers.
Purpose:
- To characterize the interaction between insulin and liposomes.
- To quantify the binding affinity and nature of insulin-liposome association.
- To evaluate the stability of insulin within liposomal formulations.
Summary:
- Insulin-liposome interactions were assessed using fluorescence spectroscopy and microcalorimetry.
- Fluorescence quenching studies and thermodynamic analysis indicated weak binding.
- High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) confirmed minimal insulin association with liposomes (0.2% combination).
Impact:
- The findings suggest limited direct interaction between insulin and liposomes.
- This information is vital for designing effective insulin-loaded liposomal formulations.
- Further research may explore modifications to enhance insulin encapsulation and stability in liposomes.
Aim:
To study the characteristics of the interaction between insulin and liposome.
Methods:
The interaction between insulin and liposome was studied by fluorescence spectra and microcalorimetry methods. The sample of insulin liposome interaction after separation by supper-centrifugalization or gel filtration was determined by fluorescence and HPLC.
Results:
The results indicate that there was only little increase in fluorescence intensity and no blue shift of peak in fluorescence spectrum. Fluorescence quenching experiments with NaI and acrylamide as quenchers showed that the KSVs (the slope of Strm-Volmer equation) of insulin were more similar to that with added liposome, indicating low interaction between insulin with liposome. The microcalorimetric results indicate that the heat released during the mixture of liposome with insulin, was 1.98 kcal.mol-1, suggesting that the reaction belongs to weak reaction. The quantity of insulin in the insulin-liposome mixture sample after separation by ultracentrifuge or by Sephadex G-75 determined by HPLC, the combination percent was only 0.2%, indicating low interaction between insulin and liposome.
Conclusion:
The interaction between insulin and liposome was weak.
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