We show that systems composed of a monoalkylated amphiphile and a sterol can form a stable liquid-ordered lamellar phase that could be extruded to form Large Unilamellar Vesicles (LUVs). The passive permeability of these LUVs was drastically limited due to the high sterol content. Specific molecular requirements must be respected to successfully form these non phospholipid liposomes. At the hydrophobic core level, the sterol chain at position C17 should not be bulky to ensure the proper tight chain packing. At the interface level, the hydration of the bilayer is essential for the liposome stability. Octadecyl methyl sulfoxide can form, with high content of cholesterol, LUVs that are stable at room temperature. This formulation, exclusively composed of neutral molecules, likely exists because of the strong H-bond capability of the sulfoxide group. These novel formulations display a great potential for applications in many areas such as drug delivery.

Novel non phospholipid liposomes with high sterol content: Development and characterization

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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