Preparation of uniform rich cholesterol unilamellar nanovesicles using CO2-expanded solvents

Langmuir. 2008 Mar 18;24(6):2433-7. doi: 10.1021/la7032109. Epub 2008 Jan 30.

Abstract

Nanoscopic and uniform unilamellar vesicles, rich in cholesterol, have been prepared by a new procedure, named "DELOS-SUSP", which is based on the depressurization of a cholesterol solution in CO2-expanded acetone into an aqueous solution containing a surfactant. The CO2 is used here as a cosolvent medium, allowing the straightforward preparation of vesicular systems with controlled size distribution, uniform shape, and stability unachievable by conventional mixing technologies. The resulting nanoscopic vesicular systems dispersed in water were characterized using dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, turbidity, and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. The influence of operational parameters of this new methodology on the physicochemical characteristics of the vesicular systems is also reported.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetone / chemistry
  • Carbon Dioxide / chemistry*
  • Cholesterol / chemistry*
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Particle Size
  • Solubility
  • Solutions / chemistry
  • Solvents / chemistry
  • Surface Properties
  • Surface-Active Agents / chemistry
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Solutions
  • Solvents
  • Surface-Active Agents
  • Water
  • Acetone
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Cholesterol