pH-sensitive Vesicles Research Articles

Amphiphilic Dendrimer Doping Enhanced pH-Sensitivity of Liposomal Vesicle for Effective Co-delivery toward Synergistic Ferroptosis-Apoptosis Therapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Ferroptosis, characterized by the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxides, has emerged as an attractive strategy to reverse drug resistance. Of particular interest is the ferroptosis-apoptosis combination therapy for cancer treatment. Herein, a nanoplatform is reported for effective co-delivery of the anticancer drug sorafenib (S) and the ferroptosis inducer hemin (H), toward synergistic ferroptosis-apoptosis therapy of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as a proof-of-concept study. Liposome is an excellent delivery system; however, it is not sufficiently responsive to the acidic tumor microenvironment (TME) for tumor-targeted drug delivery. The pH-sensitive vesicles are therefore developed (SH-AD-L) by incorporating amphiphilic dendrimers (AD) into liposomes for controlled and pH-stimulated release of sorafeniband hemin in the acidic TME, thanks to the protonation of numerous amine functionalities in AD. Importantly, SH-AD-L not only blocked glutathione synthesis to disrupt the antioxidant system, but also increased intracellular Fe2+ and ·OH concentrations to amplify oxidative stress, both of which contribute to enhanced ferroptosis. Remarkably, high levels of ·OH also augmented sorafenib-mediated apoptosis in tumor cells. This study demonstrates the efficacy of ferroptosis-apoptosis combination therapy, as well as the promise of the AD-doped TME-responsive vesicles for drug delivery in combination therapy to treat advanced HCC.

Catalyst-Free One-Step Preparation of Self-Crosslinked pH-Responsive Vesicles.

The fabrication of block copolymer (BCP) vesicles with controlled membrane permeability and promising stability remains a considerable challenge. Herein, a new type of pH-responsive and self-crosslinked vesicle based on a hydrolytically hindered urea bond is reported. This kind of vesicle is formed by the self-assembly of a pH-responsive and hydrolytically self-crosslinkable copolymer poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly[2-(3-(tert-butyl)-3-ethylureido)ethyl methacrylate-co-2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PEG-b-P(TBEU-co-DEA)). The BCP can be easily synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of 2-(3-(tert-butyl)-3-ethylureido)ethyl methacrylate (TBEU) and 2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DEA) using PEG-based macro-chain transfer agent. The copolymer could self-assemble into stable vesicles by the hydrophobic interaction and in situ cross-linking between amines and isocyanates after the hydrolysis of the hindered urea bonds without any catalyst. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) studies show that the vesicles exhibit enhanced stability against the dilution of organic solvent, and the size can be adjusted through the change of pH values. Moreover, the alkaline phosphatase-loaded vesicles can act as nano-reactor and enable free diffusion of small molecules into the vesicles, followed by the significantly improved fluorescence intensity of phosphate-caged fluorescein. This self-crosslinking and pH-sensitive vesicles may serve as a smart platform in controlled drug delivery and molecular reactor.

PH-sensitive polymersomes: controlling swelling via copolymer structure and chemical composition

pH-sensitive vesicles used as drug delivery systems (DDSs) are generally composed of protonable copolymers. The disaggregation of these nanoparticles (NPs) during drug release implies the dispersion of positively charged cytotoxic polyelectrolytes in the human body. To alleviate such issue, we synthesised A(BC)n amphiphilic block copolymers with linear (n = 1) and branched (n = 2) architectures to obtain pH-sensitive vesicles capable of releasing drugs in acidic conditions via controlled swelling instead of disaggregation. We obtained this feature by fine-tuning the relative amount of pH-sensitive and hydrophobic monomers. We studied pH-driven swelling by measuring NPs size in neutral and acidic conditions, the latter typical of tumours or inflamed tissues (pH∼6) and lysosomes (pH∼4.5). Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential data provided useful indications about the influence of architecture and chemical composition on NPs swelling, stability and polycation release. Results demonstrated that vesicles made of linear copolymers with ∼22–28% in mol of protonable monomers in the ‘BC’ block swelled more than other species following a pH change from pH 7.4 to pH 4.5. We finally evaluated the cytotoxicity of vesicles composed of linear species, and paclitaxel (PTX) release from the latter in both cancer and normal cells.

Glutathione and endosomal pH-responsive hybrid vesicles fabricated by zwitterionic polymer block poly(l-aspartic acid) as a smart anticancer delivery platform

Zwitterionic hybrid block copolymer based nanocarriers are ideal candidates for drug delivery applications due the higher resistance to nonspecific protein adsorption in complex media compared to nonionic polymers. Especially, zwitterionic poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) p(MPC) based nanocarriers can maintain its stability during circulation in complex media, such as serum. Thus, a series of bioreducible and pH-responsive zwitterionic/amphiphilic block copolymers, poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine)50-block-poly(l-aspartic acid)n (p(MPC)50–b–p(AA)n) (n=10, 25, 50, 75), bearing a degradable disulfide linker have been synthesized and exploited as dual-stimuli-responsive drug delivery vehicle of the chemotherapeutic drug, doxorubicin (Dox). Dox was successfully loaded into uniform vesicles (∼100nm) fabricated from p(MPC)50–b–p(AA)n and the release performance was investigated under different pH conditions and with a range of concentrations of the reducing agent, 1,4-dithiothreitol (DTT). At physiological conditions, increasing concentrations of DTT resulted in faster Dox release from vesicles. Dox release at elevated DTT concentrations was more effective at pH5.5 than at pH7.5. Blank vesicles were non-toxic over a wide concentration range when tested in normal cell lines (0.01–100μg/mL). Vesicles efficiently encapsulated Dox and the dual stimuli-responsive disassembly results demonstrated controlled and sustained release of Dox tin 4T1 cancer cells to confer dose-dependent cytotoxicity. Thus, the bioreducible and pH sensitive vesicles appear to be a promising theranostic platform for drug delivery applications.

Serum-Stable, Long-Circulating, pH-Sensitive PEGylated Liposomes.

pH-sensitive liposomes have been designed to deliver active compounds, specifically to acidic intracellular organelles, and to augment their cytoplasmic concentrations. These systems combine the protective effects of other liposomal formulations with specific environment-controlled drug release. They are stable at physiological pH, but abruptly discharge their contents when endocytosed into acidic compartments, allowing the drug to be released before it is exposed to the harsh environment of the lysosomes.Serum-stable formulations with minimal leakage at physiological pH and rapid drug release at pH 5.0 to 5.5 can be easily prepared by inserting a hydrophobically modified N-isopropylacrylamide/methacrylic acid copolymer (poly(NIPAM-co-MAA)) in the lipid bilayer of sterically stabilized liposomes. The present chapter describes polymer synthesis, as well as the preparation and characterization of large unilamellar pH-sensitive vesicles.

PH-Sensitive Vesicles Formed by Amphiphilic Grafted Copolymers with Tunable Membrane Permeability for Drug Loading/Release: A Multiscale Simulation Study

By synergizing molecular dynamics and dissipative particle dynamics simulations, we investigate the assembly of amphiphilic grafted copolymers into vesicles and the loading/release of doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX·HCl). The copolymers, PAE-g-PEGLA, comprise pH-sensitive poly(β-amino ester) grafted with hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) and hydrophobic poly(d,l-lactide). The vesicle formation is revealed to follow an aggregation–rearrangement mechanism, in which small clusters first form, then rearrange, and finally merge into bilayer-structured vesicles. The vesicle interior size and membrane thickness are substantially affected by the exchange quantity and frequency between tetrahydrofuran and water. At pH = 7, DOX·HCl is loaded into the vesicle interior, and the loading efficiency increases with increasing polymer concentration. At pH < 7, PAE blocks are protonated and hydrophilic, which causes the structure transition of membrane thus tuning membrane permeability for DOX·HCl release. When PLA blocks b...

Interaction of pH-sensitive non-phospholipid liposomes with cellular mimetic membranes

Surfactant nanocarriers have received considerable attention in the last several years as interesting alternative to classic liposomes. Different pH-sensitive vesicular colloidal carriers based on Tween 20 derivatives, obtained after functionalization of the head groups of the surfactant with natural, or simply modified, amino acids, were proposed as drug nanocarriers. Dynamic light scattering, Small Angle X-ray Scattering, Trasmission Electron Microscopy and fluorescence studies were used for the physico-chemical characterization of vesicles and mean size, size distribution, zeta potential, vesicle morphology and bilayer properties were evaluated. The pH-sensitivity and the stability of formulations, in absence and in presence of foetal bovine serum, were also evaluated. Moreover, the contact between surfactant vesicles and liposomes designed to model the cellular membrane was investigated by fluorescence studies to preliminary explore the potential interaction between vesicle and cell membranes. Experimental findings showed that physico-chemical and technological features of pH-sensitive vesicles were influenced by the composition of the carriers. Furthermore, proposed carriers are able to interact with mimetic cell membrane and it is reasonable to attribute the observed differences in interaction to the architectural/structural properties of Tween 20 derivatives. The findings reported in this investigation showed that a deep and extensive physico-chemical characterization of the carrier is a fundamental step, according to the evidence that the knowledge of nanocarrier properties is necessary to translate its potentiality to in vitro/in vivo applications.

Preparation and Characterization of Stable pH-Sensitive Vesicles Composed of α-Tocopherol Hemisuccinate

The current study aims to develop a stable pH-sensitive drug delivery system. First, cleavable polyethylene glycol-α-tocopherol hemisuccinate (PEG-THS) was synthesized. Conventional pH-sensitive vesicles composed of the Tris salt of α-tocopherol hemisuccinate (THST) were then prepared using the detergent removal technique. The vesicles had a mean particle size of (163.8 ± 5.5) nm and a zeta potential of -74.5 ± 6.4 mV. The THST vesicles were then modified using PEG-THS or uncleavable PEG-cholesterol (PEG-CHOL) (THST/PEG-lipids, 100:6 molar ratio). The mean vesicle particle size and absolute zeta potential decreased with increasing PEG-THS proportion. When the pH was decreased, the vesicle particle size and calcein release rate increased. The THST vesicles were initially Ca(2+)-unstable but exhibited significantly improved stability after modification with PEG-THS, especially at PEG-lipid ratios above 6%. Incubation in an acid serum increased the calcein release rate of conventional THST vesicles to 45 ± 1.98% at 10 min. However, the release rate of the PEG-CHOL vesicles remained low. The calcein release rate of PEG-THS vesicles was between those of conventional and PEG-CHOL-V. Therefore, PEG-THS can protect vesicles in serum and reconstitute their pH sensitivity in acidic conditions. Cleavable PEG-THS can be used in stable pH-sensitive preparations without loss of pH sensitivity. Free calcein and conventional vesicles eliminated from the plasma soon after injection, as well as the half-life (t(1/2)) and area under the curve of PEG-THS-V encapsulating calcein, were dramatically increased. This phenomenon indicates that the use of PEG-lipid derivatives has gained a favorably long circulation effect in mice.

PH-Sensitive Vesicles and Rheological Properties of PFLA/NaOH/H2O and PFLA/LiOH/H2O Systems

The formation of pH-sensitive vesicles and the rheological properties of the mixtures of perfluorolauric acid (PFLA) and its salts (PFL-Na and PFL-Li) neutralized via NaOH or LiOH were investigated in aqueous solution. When the right mixing ratios of the ionized to nonionzed PFLA molecules with a very high Krafft point are established, vesicles can spontaneously form at room temperature. The vesicles spontaneously formed in the PFLA/PFL-Na/H(2)O system with the rigid fluorocarbon chains were determined by atomic force microscopy images. Compared to those of hydrocarbon amphiphiles, these vesicle samples, which can be kept for 2 years at room temperature, are more stable. The phase transition from the vesicle phase to the lamellar lyotropic liquid crystal phase with the increase of pH was determined by freeze-fracture transmission electron microscopy images in the PFLA/PFL-Li/H(2)O system. The system of perfluoro fatty acid vesicles exhibits much more interesting rheological properties, compared to hydrocarbon fatty acid vesicles. The perfluoro fatty acid vesicle solutions display a much higher yield stress and viscoelastic properties, which depend on two factors: (i) the fluorinated alkyl chains of PFL(-), which are in the crystalline state at room temperature because of their rigid chains compared to analogous hydrocarbon chains, and (ii) the packing of the vesicles, which is very dense. This is the first time that pH-sensitive vesicles exhibiting birefringence were constructed through ionizing perfluoro fatty acid, which may direct primarily toward acquiring an understanding of the mechanism of vesicles depending on the right mixing ratios of the ionized to the nonionzed perfluoro fatty acid molecules with a very high Krafft point and secondarily to expand the development of fluorinated surfactants in both fundamental research and practical applications.

A pH-sensitive polymeric nanovesicle based on biodegradable poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl aspartate) as a MRI-visible drug delivery system

Diblock copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and biodegradable 2-(diisopropylamino)ethanol grafted poly(L-aspartic acid) (PAsp(DIP)) were synthesized and evaluated as a MRI-visible and pH-sensitive drug delivery system. The copolymers can self-assemble into stable vesicles in aqueous solutions at neutral pH, resembling the physiological environment, whereas they disassemble in acidic endosomal/lysosomal compartments of tumor cells to achieve rapid drug release. The anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) and hydrophilic superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) were encapsulated inside the inner aqueous core of the vesicles for cancer therapy and MR imaging, respectively. In vitrodrug release studies showed that the DOX release from the pH-sensitive vesicles was significantly faster at pH 5.0 than at pH 7.4. SPIONs clustering inside the inner aqueous core of the vesicles resulted in a high spin–spin (T2) relaxivity. Cell culture studies showed that the DOX-SPION-loaded vesicles could be effectively internalized by human hepatic cancer Bel 7402 cells, and DOX could be rapidly released from vesicles inside lysosomal compartments and then migrated into nuclei. Consequently effective suppression of cancer cell growth was detected. This study demonstrated the potential of the biodegradable DOX-SPION-loaded pH-sensitive vesicles as an effective multifunctional nanomedicine platform for cancer therapy due to their pH-triggerable drug release and high MRI sensitivity.

Novel Tween® 20 derivatives enable the formation of efficient pH-sensitive drug delivery vehicles for human hepatoblastoma

We describe the synthesis, the physicochemical characterization and the biological evaluation of three novel pH-sensitive systems prepared derivatizing polysorbate 20 (Tween® 20) with glycine, N-methyl-glycine and N, N-dimethyl-glycine ( TW20-GLY, TW20-MMG and TW20-DMG). These derivatives form pH-sensitive vesicles and translocate small molecules into cells. The reported systems are efficient drug delivery systems for human hepatoblastoma cells.

Span® and Tween® neutral and pH-sensitive vesicles: Characterization and in vitro skin permeation

The aim of this work was the preparation, characterization, and comparison of novel pH-sensitive nonphospholipid vesicles (niosomes) from two nonionic surfactants, with different hydrophilic-lipophilic balance values (Tween®20-TW20 = 16.7 and Span®60-SP60 = 4.7). Surfactants were mixed with cholesterol (CHOL) and its derivative, cholesteryl hemisuccinate (CHEMS), as a pH-sensitive molecule. Vesicles were characterized by dynamic light scattering, in order to evaluate their dimensions and vesicle stability, by ζ-potential measurements and by means of electronic microscopy after freeze-fracture.Ibuprofen (IBU) was used as the model drug, and high-performance liquid chromatography analyses were performed to evaluate drug-entrapment efficiency and release in a neutral, acidic environment. The influence of the vesicle composition on skin accumulation and transdermal permeation of IBU across excised hairless rat skin was investigated by using vertical Gummer diffusion cells. When niosomes with SP60 and CHEMS were prepared, there was a statistically significant increase of skin permeation of IBU, while TW20 niosomes did not show statistically significant differences in Papp values without the influence of the vesicle size and charge.

Preparation of Supramolecular Graft Copolymers and the Subsequent Formation of pH-Sensitive Vesicles

A feasible methodology for the preparation of vesicles through self-assembly of supramolecular graft copolymers (SGPs) was developed. Two types of polymeric vesicles were prepared through self-assembly of two SGPs. For the first SGP, hydrophobic poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PVPy) were used as main chains, and hydrophilic poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) with carboxylic end groups (PNVP-COOH) were grafted onto the main chains through ionic interaction between the carboxylic groups and pyridine groups. For the second SGP, hydrophobic poly(4-acrylamidobenzoic acid) (PABA) were used as main chains, and poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) with amino end groups were grafted onto the main chains through ionic interaction between the amino groups and carboxylic groups. Both SGPs could self-assemble to form vesicles in aqueous solution. The size of the vesicles prepared from the PVPy/PNVP-COOH (or PABA/PNVP-NH2) system could be controlled through modulation of the mass ratio of PVPy and PNVP-COOH (or PABA and PNVP-NH2). Both vesicles were...

Esterase-catalyzed dePEGylation of pH-sensitive vesicles modified with cleavable PEG-lipid derivatives

To make vesicles for the better controlled content release, we modified cholesteryl hemisuccinate (CHEMS)-derived vesicles with PEG-lipid derivatives. Two cholesterol analogs, cholesteryl hemisuccinate (CHEMS) and cholesteryl chloroformate (CHM), have been conjugated to the polyethylene glycol (PEG) via their ester bonds for the vesicle modifications, so the PEGs can be cleaved by esterases. The effects of PEG-lipid proportions, serum concentrations and the lipid types on the esterase-catalyzed cleavage of PEG polymer off the vesicles surface were determined. We observed that PEG cleavages decreased as the molar ratios of the PEG-lipids in vesicles increased; on the other hand, PEG cleavages gradually increased with the increased serum concentrations. In contrast to conventional long circulation materials mPEG-DSPE and mPEG-CHOL, the two new conjugates enabled higher degrees of PEG cleavages from modified vesicles. After incubation in the serum at acidic conditions, esterase-catalyzed dePEGylation destabilized these vesicles, increasing the mean particle sizes and promoting content releases. These results suggested that ester linkages between the PEG and lipid anchors allow faster content releases in the suitable conditions. Together, the two esterase cleavable PEG-lipid conjugations may be applied not only to stabilize vesicles and prolong their circulation time, but also to provide more efficient content releases by the esterase controlled dePEGylation.

Preparation and Characterization of pH-Sensitive Vesicles Made of Cholesteryl Hemisuccinate

pH-sensitive vesicles are designed to promote efficient release of entrapped agents in response to low pH. In this study, such vesicles were prepared from cholesteryl hemisuccinate (CHEMS) in Tris-HCl buffer. Vesicles prepared by this direct hydration method had a small particle size of 74.1 nm based on intensity of Gaussian and a size of 65.8 nm based on volume of Gaussian. The mean zeta potential was about –73mV, indicating that the vesicle system was stable. Entrapment efficiency for calcein by these vesicles was measured at 37 ± 2.36%, which is higher than that by phospholipid MLVs. These calcein loaded vesicles exhibited excellent stability at pH 7.4 and underwent rapid destabilization upon acidification as showed by calcein release. However these vesicles were unstable in Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS). Optimization of formulation might improve their stability in serum.

Polymerized ion pair amphiphile vesicles with pH-sensitive transformation and controlled release property

Ion pair amphiphiles (IPA) composed of one proton-deionizable single or double alkyl chain ammonium surfactant and one anionic carboxylate surfactant with polymerizable dithiolane ring are prepared to develop polymerized microcapsules that can recognize pH change and transform itself under basic condition, thus releasing encapsulated materials at the desired point. Combination of pH-sensitivity and polymeric solid structure, if fully developed, endows the IPA vesicle with smart function that is highly valuable in drug delivery application. Reasons for such high pH-sensitive vesicle transformation are sought from combined physical properties such as turbidity, zeta potential, surface tension, and release rate of marker through the vesicle membrane.

Theory of Tunable pH-Sensitive Vesicles of Anionic and Cationic Lipids or Anionic and Neutral Lipids

The design of vesicles that become unstable at an easily tuned value of pH is of great interest for targeted drug delivery. We present a microscopic theory for two forms of such vesicles. A model of lipids introduced by us previously is applied to a system of ionizable anionic lipid and permanently charged cationic lipid. We calculate the pH at which the lamellar phase becomes unstable with respect to an inverted hexagonal one, a value that depends continuously on the system composition. Identifying this instability with that displayed by unilamellar vesicles undergoing fusion, we obtain very good agreement with the recent experimental data of Hafez, Ansell, and Cullis, (2000, Biophys. J. 79:1438–1446) on the pH at which fusion occurs versus vesicle composition. We explicate the mechanism in terms of the role of the counterions. This understanding suggests that a system of a neutral, nonlamellar-forming lipid stabilized by an anionic lipid would serve equally well for preparing tunable, pH-sensitive vesicles. Our calculations confirm this. Further, we show that both forms of vesicle have the desirable feature of exhibiting a regime in which the pH at instability is a rapidly varying function of the vesicle composition.

New pH-Sensitive Vesicles. Release Control of Trapped Materials from the Inner Aqueous Phase of Vesicles Made from Triple-Chain Amphiphiles Bearing Two Carboxylate Groups

The pH-induced release of trapped materials from the inner aqueous phase of vesicles made from the synthetic triple-chain amphiphile 1 bearing two carboxyl groups was investigated. While a particular pH-dependence of the release of trapped materials from the inside of vesicles made from distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC) was not observed, vesicles made from compound 1 showed unique pH-sensitive character toward the pH of the outer bulk phase as follows: it released less than 10% of 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (CF) as a water-soluble marker at pH 7.5 after 1 year. But the vesicular assemblies were broken below pH 3.5−4.0, resulting in the liberation of the trapped CF into the bulk phase. The latter result is associated with a full-protonation of the carboxylate groups of compound 1. In the case of vesicles made from a mixture of DSPC and compound 1, the addition of cholesterol into the vesicle membranes was effective in providing clear pH-sensitive character for this type of vesicle. The ζ potentials of a series of vesicles containing compound 1 at various pH synchronized well with the pKa1 value of vesicles made from compound 1 and the pH-dependence of the release of trapped CF from these vesicles.

PH-Sensitive Liposomes

AbstractpH sensitive liposomes are lipid compositions that can be destabilized when the external pH is changed; usually from a neutral or slightly alkaline pH to an acidic pH. They are designed to circumvent delivery of liposome contents to the lysosomes of cells following internalization of the vesicle via the endocytic pathway. In the majority of compositions, a lipid containing a pH titratable group is mixed with phosphatidylethanolamine containing unsaturated acyl chains in a molar ratio (pH sensitive component/PE) of 1/4 or greater. There are five major groups of phosphatidylethanolamine containing pH-senstive lipid compositions. These can be classified by their acid-titratable component: phospholipids, acylated amino acids, fatty acids, cholesterol derivatives and miscellaneous double chain amphiphiles. The biophysical mechanism of action involves a transition of the lipids from the lamellar phase to the hexagonal phase. In cell culture, pH sensitive vesicles can increase the delivery of fluorescent...

Formula omitted]: structural preferences in pure and mixed model membranes

The structural preferences of the pH-sensitive phospholipid, N- succinyldioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine ( N- succinyl-DOPE ), have been examined alone and in mixtures with DOPE by 31P-NMR, fluorescence energy transfer, and freeze-fracture techniques. The basic polymorphic behavior of pure N- succinyl-DOPE and DOPE/N- succinyl-DOPE lipid systems and the influence of calcium and pH were investigated. It is shown that, similar to other negatively charged acidic phospholipids, N- succinyl-DOPE adopts the bilayer organization upon hydration. This structure is maintained at both pH 7.4 and 4.0 in the presence or absence of calcium. In the mixed lipid system, N- succinyl-DOPE can stabilize the non-bilayer lipid, DOPE, into a bilayer structure at both pH 7.4 and 4.0 at more than 10 mol% N- succinyl-DOPE , although a narrow 31P-NMR lineshape is observed at acidic pH values. This corresponds to the presence of smaller vesicles as shown by quasi-elastic light scattering measurements. Addition of equimolar calcium (with respect to N- succinyl-DOPE ) to the DOPE/N- succinyl-DOPE systems induces the hexagonal H II phase at both pH values. In unilamellar systems with similar lipid composition the addition of Ca 2+ results in membrane fusion as indicated by fluorescence energy-transfer experiments. These findings are discussed with regard to the molecular mechanism of the bilayer to hexagonal H II phase transition and membrane fusion and the utility of N- succinyl-DOPE containing pH-sensitive vesicles as drug-delivery vehicles.