Calorimetric studies of lipid tubule formation from ethanol-water solutions

An index of lipid phase diagrams

There is a growing awareness of the utility of lipid phase behavior data in studies of membrane-related phenomena. Such miscibility information is commonly reported in the form of temperature-composition (T-C) phase diagrams. The current index is a conduit to the relevant literature. It lists lipid phase diagrams, their components and conditions of measurement, and complete bibliographic information. The main focus of the index is on lipids of membrane origin where water is the dispersing medium. However, it also includes records on acylglycerols, fatty acids, cationic lipids, and detergent-containing systems. The miscibility of synthetic and natural lipids with other lipids, with water, and with biomolecules (proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, etc.) and non-biological materials (drugs, anesthetics, organic solvents, etc.) is within the purview of the index. There are 2188 phase diagram records in the index, the bulk (81%) of which refers to binary (two-component) T-C phase diagrams. The remainder is made up of more complex (ternary, quaternary) systems, pressure-T phase diagrams, and other more exotic miscibility studies. The index covers the period from 1965 through to July, 2001.

Formation of high axial ratio microstructures from peptides modified with glutamic acid dialkyl amides

A growing number of amphiphiles are known to form high axial ratio microstructures (HARMs) such as the hollow cylindrical microstructures called lipid tubules. As a prelude to exploring the potential of HARMs formed from lipopeptides in controlled release drug delivery, several microstructure formation conditions were investigated. We report the preparation of several glutamic acid dialkyl amides with varying alkyl chain lengths bearing a verity of peptides (1-4 amino acids) [peptide-Glu-(NHCnH2n+1)2, n=12, 14, 16]. These surfactants have been rapidly and efficiently converted into HARMs in aqueous buffer at physiological pH and ionic strength, or in buffer containing MeOH or EtOH. Helical ribbons and tubular HARMs were produced that were stable for as long as 6 months below the phase transition temperatures of the compounds. To estimate the stability of HARMs in vivo, HARMs formed from (Pro)3-Glu(NHC16H33)2 were incubated with DOPC liposomes or fetal calf serum at 40 degreesC. HARM size and shape did not change significantly, suggesting that such lipopeptide particles can retain their morphology long enough in vivo to be useful as drug delivery vehicles.