Liposome-Permeability Templating of Gadolinium Hydroxide Nanostructures

Abstract

With the growing attention in building novel nanostructures, there is a need for general approaches to controlling the sizes and shapes in precipitation processes. Here, precipitated gadolinium hydroxides (Gd(OH) 3 ) were made in the form of hollow spheres by control of the liposome permeability. Addition of Gd(NO 3 ) 3 to the acidic solution containing the liposomes entrapping OH À creates a self-precipitating template in the precipitation process. The control-formation of these nano-structures takes place through a liposome-membrane phase change. Hybrid nanocapsules are obtained when entrapped hydroxyl ions (OH À ) permeates from the liposome and shell material precipitates by forming Gd(OH) 3 . The morphology of the final product is molded on the original liposome. This synthesis strategy might have implications in significant applications, such as drug delivery systems, and in mineralization, where many processes are also membrane-assisted.

A liposome-actuated enzyme system and its capability as a self-biomineralized silica nanoreactor

“…With temperature approaching to the gel-to-uid phase transition temperature (T m ), liposome membrane is consequently more permeable. 6,19 The T m of vesicles was seen at approximately 40 C, in agreement with literature values 21,22 (see ESI Fig. S1 †).…”

“…Lipid vesicles of required composition and size were obtained by the lipid lm hydration and extrusion method. 6,19,20 When a lipid lm, DPPC/cholesterol 1 : 0.2 in composition, was hydrated and extruded through polycarbonate membranes with a 2 mg ml À1 urease solution, 410 nm in diameter nanoreactors were formed in which enzymes are entrapped by lipid vesicles (see ESI Fig. S1 †).…”

Nanodelivery of the Gramicidin Peptide for Enhancing Antimicrobial Activity

“…Liposomes (L) were prepared by the lipid film hydration and extrusion method. [ 53,54 ] For this, three different liposomal membrane (LM) compositions were evaluated with the aim of obtaining a lipid bilayer with a main phase transition temperature (Tm) close to the generally increased local temperature detected in wound infections: DPPC(Avanti Polar Lipids)/cholesterol(Sigma‐Aldrich) (5:1) (LM1), DPPC/DMPC(Avanti Polar Lipids)/cholesterol (5:3:1) (LM2), and DPPC/DMPC/cholesterol (7:2:1) (LM3). In all cases, the phospholipids and cholesterol mixture was dissolved in chloroform and dried to a film under a stream of nitrogen for at least 8 h in order to completely remove the solvent.…”