Biochimica et biophysica acta
-
Biochim. Biophys. Acta · Nov 2013
Neutral liposomes containing crown ether-lipids as potential DNA vectors.
Three crown ether derivatives, 1,2-O-dioleoyl-3-O-{2-[(12-crown-4)methoxy]ethyl}-sn-glycerol (12C4L), 1,2-O-dioleoyl-3-O-{2-[(15-crown-5)methoxy]ethyl}-sn-glycerol (15C5L) and 2,3-naphtho-15-crown-5 (NAP5), have been incorporated into 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-phosphatydilcholine (POPC) liposomes. The size of the crown ether and the lipophilic moiety of 12C4L, 15C5L and NAP5 influence the stability and the properties of the extruded POPC liposomes determined at 25°C in buffered aqueous solution at pH7.4. The investigated liposomes are zwitterionic for POPC headgroups but can be turned into cationic aggregates in the presence of divalent cations. The capability of these systems to complex DNA has been demonstrated by SAXS experiments.