By mixing a small volume of THF containing guanosine derivative 1 and tetraethylenegrycol dodecyl ether (TEGDE) with water and subsequently removing TEGDE by gel permeation chromatography, micrometer-sized giant unilamellar vesicles (GUV) of 1 were successfully prepared. The vesicle membrane was a 2-D sheet assembly of thickness 2.5 nm, composed of a 2-D inter-guanine hydrogen-bond network. The GUV dispersion showed high stability because of a large negative zeta potential, which allowed repeated sedimentation and redispersion by centrifugation and subsequent gentle agitation. TEGDE-triggered fusion of GUVs took place within 350 ms, which proceeded by fusion of the vesicle membranes in contact. These unique static and dynamic properties of the GUV membrane assembled by the 2-D hydrogen-bond network are discussed.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.