Basic Methods for Preparation of Liposomes and Studying Their Interactions with Different Compounds, with the Emphasis on Polyphenols

Abstract

Studying the interactions between lipid membranes and various bioactive molecules (e.g., polyphenols) is important for determining the effects they can have on the functionality of lipid bilayers. This knowledge allows us to use the chosen compounds as potential inhibitors of bacterial and cancer cells, for elimination of viruses, or simply for keeping our healthy cells in good condition. As studying those effect can be exceedingly difficult on living cells, model lipid membranes, such as liposomes, can be used instead. Liposomal bilayer systems represent the most basic platform for studying those interactions, as they are simple, quite easy to prepare and relatively stable. They are especially useful for investigating the effects of bioactive compounds on the structure and kinetics of simple lipid membranes. In this review, we have described the most basic methods available for preparation of liposomes, as well as the essential techniques for studying the effects of bioactive compounds on those liposomes. Additionally, we have provided details for an easy laboratory implementation of some of the described methods, which should prove useful especially to those relatively new on this research field.

Insights into Polyphenol–Lipid Interactions: Chemical Methods, Molecular Aspects and Their Effects on Membrane Structures

“…In a common DSC measurement, both cells are loaded (or the reference is left empty), equilibrated and scanned with heat, cool and heat cycles, for example at scan rate of 1 °C/min from 10 °C to 60 °C [ 73 ] or of 2 °C/min from 20 °C to 50 °C [ 20 ]. DSC is easy to use and widely applied, but attention needs to be paid to the liposome concentrations and the final concentrations of organic solvents [ 38 ]. In general, DSC is a sensitive technique for studying phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholines, but for example, studies on cholesterol have been performed using lipid mixtures with low concentrations (<10%) of cholesterol because the high concentrations notably affected the phase transition; they broadened the endotherm and interfered with the L c /L α transitions [ 74 , 75 , 76 ], making DSC more suitable for cholesterol-depleted than for cholesterol-rich membranes.…”

Mechanistic Understanding from Molecular Dynamics in Pharmaceutical Research 2: Lipid Membrane in Drug Design

“…Phenolic compounds Artepillin C [460], Chlorogenic acid and Isochlorogenic acid [461], Proanthocyanidins [462,463], Oleuropein aglycone [464], Other [465][466][467][468][469] The orientation and location of drug molecules in lipid membranes is clearly only the beginning of our story. Once molecules enter a biomembrane they can do three different things: (1) pass out of the membrane again, possibly on the other side, the membrane merely forming a biological barrier on their way to their eventual destination, (2) act collectively to instigate large scale alteration or even disruption of the membrane structure, or (3) interact with proteins that are associated with the membrane.…”

Nanotechnology in the Diagnostic and Therapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

“…Since the aim of this study was to highlight the medical applications of nanoparticles for HCC diagnosis and treatment, the following section only, briefly, details characteristics of the most common types of nanoparticles used for the targeted delivery or diagnosis of cancer. For a more comprehensive view on their synthesis and characteristics, the reader is referred to other works of the literature [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ].…”