Self-Assembled Lipid Superstructures:  Beyond Vesicles and Liposomes

Abstract

A unique set of nanoparticle dispersions of self-assembled lipid mesophases with distinctive reversed cubic, hexagonal, and sponge phase structures has been prepared by use of original lipid combinations and a simple, generally applicable and scalable method. All key properties, particle size distributions, shape, phase structure, and stability, are controlled predictably and reproducibly. The results suggest the cross-disciplinary use of nonlamellar particle structures in science and technology as, for instance, biomimetics, in vivo drug delivery vehicles for diagnostic and therapeutic agents, protein crystallization matrices, and soft nanoporous materials.

Investigating reversed liquid crystalline mesophases

“…Fast Fourier transform (FFT) from cryo-TEM images can be used to determine more precisely the interplanar distances in the mesophase structure [10,15,16]. However, so far, cubosomes were always analyzed under conditions, where the electron beam was aligned either with the [100] direction or with the [111] direction.…”

“…Notice that tilting experiments allow also determining the shape of the particles. Barauskas et al [16] described hexosomes which were plate-like having a width which is about 5 times larger than their thickness. From these results, two morphologies can be proposed for the hexosomes (Fig.…”

Pharmacokinetics and enhanced oral bioavailability in beagle dogs of cyclosporine A encapsulated in glyceryl monooleate/poloxamer 407 cubic nanoparticles

“…22 Cubic nanoparticles (cubosomes) are dispersions of cubic phases composed of lipid bilayers partitioning into bicontinuous contortions of inter-connecting hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains. 23,24 The unique structure and properties of cubic nanoparticles endowed them with special interest as drug delivery carriers. 25,26 However, their potential as oral drug delivery vehicles has not been extensively explored.…”

Block Copolymer Micelles with Inverted Morphologies

“…[9] While cubosomes consist of an interpenetrating bicontinuous network, hexosomes contain am onocrystalline lattice of channels.Both polymorphs exhibit very high surface area and adopt afacetted (polyhedral) shape as directed by the internal lattice. [10] In the BCP field, Sommerdijk, McKenzie et al pioneered work on bicontinuous BCP particles using semicrystalline motifs and asymmetric blocks, [11] and later demonstrated controlled porosity through cryo-ET analysis. [12] Kim et al or scanning electron microscopy( SEM) images of lipid cubosomes (B), [10] ad ouble diamond BCP cubosome (C), [13] lipid hexosomes (D), [10] BCP cubosome with primitive (E) [14] and double diamond (F) morphology, [13] and hexagonally packed hollow hoops (G).…”

“…[10] In the BCP field, Sommerdijk, McKenzie et al pioneered work on bicontinuous BCP particles using semicrystalline motifs and asymmetric blocks, [11] and later demonstrated controlled porosity through cryo-ET analysis. [12] Kim et al or scanning electron microscopy( SEM) images of lipid cubosomes (B), [10] ad ouble diamond BCP cubosome (C), [13] lipid hexosomes (D), [10] BCP cubosome with primitive (E) [14] and double diamond (F) morphology, [13] and hexagonally packed hollow hoops (G). [16] Reproducedw ith permission from the American Chemical Society,the Nature PublishingGroup, and the AmericanP hysical Society.…”