Polymer Lipid Vesicles
Polymer Lipid Vesicles - Related Videos
08:35
Lipid Bilayer Vesicle Generation Using Microfluidic Jetting
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Cited by 16 •
2014
Microfluidic jetting against a droplet interface lipid bilayer provides a reliable way to generate vesicles with control over membrane asymmetry, incorporation of transmembrane proteins, and encapsulation of material. This technique can be applied to study a variety of biological systems where compartmentalized biomolecules are desired.
07:33
Lipid Vesicle-mediated Affinity Chromatography using Magnetic Activated Cell Sorting (LIMACS): a Novel Method to Analyze Protein-lipid Interaction
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Cited by 14 •
2011
To test the interaction of a protein with its target lipid we used MACS and Annexin V-conjugated magnetic beads and lipid vesicles synthesized from the target lipid and Annexin V-binding phosphatidylserine. Proteins bound to the target lipid are co-purified and analyzed after elution from the beads.
11:35
Constant Pressure-controlled Extrusion Method for the Preparation of Nano-sized Lipid Vesicles
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Cited by 29 •
2012
This protocol describes an extrusion method for preparing lipid vesicles of sub-micron sizes with a high degree of homogeneity. This method uses a pressure-controlled system with controlled nitrogen flow rates for liposome preparation. The lipid preparation1,2, liposome extrusion, and size characterization will be presented herein.
02:34
Polymers
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2020
The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the properties that they exhibit. Additionally,...
08:36
FM Dyes in Vesicle Recycling
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2023
FM dyes are a class of fluorescent molecules that has found important use in studying the vesicle recycling process. By virtue of a chemical structure, these molecules can insert themselves into the outer leaflet of phospholipid bilayer membranes. After membrane insertion, they are internalized into the cell via endocytosed vesicles, and released when these vesicles recycle back to the membrane. Since, these dyes fluoresce strongly in the hydrophobic environment within membranes and weakly in...
FAQs
In an aqueous environment, hydrophilic segments remain favorable to contact with water, while hydrophobic segments associate away from it. This organization brings amphiphilic polymers and lipids into a bilayer arrangement and allows the membrane to enclose an internal aqueous volume. The resulting compartment provides the structural basis for selective transport, molecular incorporation, and controlled release.
Polymer composition and lipid content alter how the membrane organizes and responds to its surroundings. These variables influence stability, permeability, and mechanical properties, allowing researchers to tune the vesicle for different experimental or delivery goals. Changing the relative molecular components can therefore modify both the integrity of the compartment and the movement of substances across its membrane.
Membrane conditions affect the organization and performance of the bilayer. Changes in those conditions can influence stability, permeability, and mechanical properties, which in turn determine how well the compartment retains or transports molecules. Evaluating these effects is important when using the system to study molecular interactions, membrane organization, or responsive behavior.
Formation begins when amphiphilic polymers and lipids encounter an aqueous environment and organize through the hydrophobic effect. Their hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments rearrange into a bilayer that closes around an internal aqueous volume. A conceptual preparation therefore focuses on selecting the polymer, lipid content, and membrane conditions needed to obtain the desired compartment properties.
The enclosed aqueous volume and tunable membrane provide two useful locations for functional molecules or cargo: materials can be associated with the internal compartment or incorporated into the membrane system. Polymer composition, lipid content, and membrane conditions then influence stability and permeability, helping researchers investigate controlled transport and release in delivery-oriented designs.
Researchers can use this combined system when they need a membrane model with adjustable chemical and physical properties. Adding amphiphilic polymers to lipids supports investigations of membrane organization and molecular interactions while retaining relevance to biological membranes. The same tunability also makes the vesicles useful for exploring delivery systems and responsive nanostructure design.
In chemistry and materials research, these vesicles provide platforms for studying membrane organization, molecular interactions, and biosensing. They can also incorporate membrane proteins or functional molecules, expanding their use as models of biological membranes. Their tunable structure supports the design of responsive nanostructures, while their enclosed volume enables investigations of compartment-based transport and release.