13] Interaction of liposomes with cells

Abstract

This chapter discusses the various approaches to liposome-cell interactions, and describes the techniques used in this laboratory for studying targeted delivery with liposomes. A liposome is composed of a phospholipid membrane and an internal aqueous space, and is held together entirely by non-covalent forces. The phospholipids of the liposome membrane can exchange with the phospholipids of cell membranes or of lipoproteins. In some cases, this may involve a net transfer of lipid to the lipoproteins and may cause the destruction of the liposome. The aqueous contents may diffuse out of the liposome due to simply the properties of the entrapped solute, or in many cases, transfer may be accelerated by the interaction of the liposome with cells or plasma components. All these phenomena are modulated by the cholesterol content, the length and saturation of the phospholipid fatty acyl chains, and the phospholipid class used to construct the liposome membrane.