Capabilities of Liposomes for Topological Transformation

Dynamic behaviors of liposomes caused by interactions between liposomal membranes and surfactant were studied by direct real-time observation by using high-intensity dark-field microscopy. Solubilization of liposomes by surfactants is thought to be a catastrophic event akin to the explosion of soap...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 2001-02, Vol.98 (5), p.2340-2345
Main Authors: Nomura, Fumimasa, Nagata, Miki, Inaba, Takehiko, Hiramatsu, Haruka, Hotani, Hirokazu, Takiguchi, Kingo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological Sciences
Biology
Deoxyribonucleic acid
Detergents
DNA
Lipid bilayers
Lipids
Lipids - chemistry
Liposomes
Microscopy
Molecules
P branes
Physics
Solubility
Solubilization
Surface areas
Surface-Active Agents - chemistry
Surfactants
Topology
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Summary:Dynamic behaviors of liposomes caused by interactions between liposomal membranes and surfactant were studied by direct real-time observation by using high-intensity dark-field microscopy. Solubilization of liposomes by surfactants is thought to be a catastrophic event akin to the explosion of soap bubbles in the air; however, the actual process has not been clarified. We studied this process experimentally and found that liposomes exposed to various surfactants exhibited unusual behavior, namely continuous shrinkage accompanied by intermittent quakes, release of encapsulated liposomes, opening up, and inside-out topological inversion.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.041419098