Liposomes composed of a double-chain cationic amphiphile (vectamidine) induce their own encapsulation into human erythrocytes

Automated tracking and analysis of phospholipid vesicle contours in phase contrast microscopy images

In this article, we propose a method for automated tracking and analysis of vesicle contours in video sequences acquired by phase contrast microscopy. The contour is determined in each frame of the selected video sequence by detecting the transition between the interior and exterior of the vesicle that is reflected in the image intensity gradients. The resulting contour points are represented in the polar coordinate system, i.e., with uniform angular sampling and with coordinates that originate from the vesicle center of mass, enabling the analysis of the vesicle shape and its membrane fluctuations. By analyzing artificial images with known ground-truth contours, the accuracy and precision of the proposed method was estimated to be 34.1 and 26.9 nm for image signal-to-noise ratio of 23 dB and pixel size of 35 nm, respectively. The proposed method was evaluated on quasi-spherical vesicles made up of different proportions of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) and cholesterol and exposed to different temperatures. The results show that the method is robust and efficient in terms of speed and quantitative description of vesicle fluctuations. The magnitude of vesicle membrane fluctuations increased with temperature, while the bending rigidity of the membrane was increasing for temperatures up to 20 °C and decreasing for higher temperatures irrespective of the vesicle molecular structure.

Interaction between equally charged membrane surfaces mediated by positively and negatively charged macro-ions

In biological systems, charged membrane surfaces are surrounded by charged molecules such as electrolyte ions and proteins. Our recent experiments in the systems of giant phospholipid vesicles indicated that some of the blood plasma proteins (macro-ions) may promote adhesion between equally charged membrane surfaces. In this work, theory was put forward to describe an IgG antibody-mediated attractive interaction between negatively charged membrane surfaces which was observed in experiments on giant phospholipid vesicles with cardiolipin-containing membranes. The attractive interactions between negatively charged membrane surfaces in the presence of negatively and positively charged spherical macro-ions are explained using functional density theory and Monte Carlo simulations. Both, the rigorous solution of the variational problem within the functional density theory and the Monte Carlo simulations show that spatial and orientational ordering of macro-ions may give rise to an attractive interaction between negatively charged membrane surfaces. It is also shown that the distinctive spatial distribution of the charge within the macro-ions (proteins) is essential in this process.

Adsorption of amphiphilic hyperbranched polyglycerol derivatives onto human red blood cells

Hydrophobically derivatized hyperbranched polyglycerol (HPG)-polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymers bearing stearoyl chains (HPG-C18-PEG) were originally developed as human serum albumin substitutes and further as a unimolecular drug delivery system. In view of these in vivo applications and the potential for membrane interaction by these materials due to their amphiphilic structure, determining the adsorption of the polymers to human red blood cells (RBCs) is an important issue. This paper reports on the in vitro adsorption to RBCs of tritium-radiolabeled HPG-C18-PEG polymers. The morphological changes of RBCs associated with the adsorption were also examined by light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) suggests that the binding site of the polymers on RBCs is the cell membrane. Adsorption experiments show that, in the medium of either saline or plasma, the binding amount of the polymers to RBCs increases with increased polymer concentration in a manner which implies simple Langmurian behavior. The binding amount in saline is of the order of 10(5) molecules/cell at an equilibrium concentration of 1 mg/mL of HPG-C18-PEG polymer. The RBC morphology depends on the adsorbed amount; the cells become crenated in high concentrations (5 and 10 mg/mL) of the polymer solutions in the absence of plasma proteins. Interestingly, a large amount of polymers remain bound to RBCs even after washes with plasma (of the order of 10(4) molecules/cell). Thus, the bound polymers might have an extended circulating time by "hitchhiking" on RBCs in the bloodstream. These results provide significant information and insight for related studies of the interaction of amphiphilic molecules with cell membranes and for in vivo applications of biopolymers as drug delivery systems.

Characterization of the cationic DiC(14)-amidine bilayer by mixed DMPC/DiC(14)-amidine molecular dynamics simulations shows an interdigitated nonlamellar bilayer phase

DiC(14)-amidine (amidine) is a nonphysiological, cationic lipid that forms stable liposomes under physiological pH and temperature. Cationic lipids have been proposed as delivery vector for DNA, proteins, and drugs. Furthermore, amidine carries at present a particular interest due to its immunomodulatory properties. (1-3) Molecular dynamics simulations reveal a remarkable fluidity in the hydrophobic bilayer core, with a tendency for strong surface curvature, in agreement with the relatively small size of experimentally formed liposomes. The amidine bilayer shows an interdigitated, nonlamellar bilayer phase, with a bilayer thickness of only 2.7 nm and an average area per lipid of 0.83 nm(2). A cluster analysis of the individual lipid structures shows a thermally accessible population of V-shaped lipids, indicative of fusion capabilities with the plasma membrane. Fusion experiments confirm this hypothesis. The results are compared to the zwitterionic DMPC (dimyristoylphosphocholine), which also carries two saturated C(14) tails.

Higly fusogenic cationic liposomes transiently permeabilize the plasma membrane of HeLa cells

Cationic liposomes can efficiently carry nucleic acids into mammalian cells. This property is tightly connected with their ability to fuse with negatively charged natural membranes (i.e. the plasma membrane and endosomal membrane). We used FRET to monitor and compare the efficiency of lipid mixing of two liposomal preparations — one of short-chained diC14-amidine and one of long-chained unsaturated DOTAP — with the plasma membrane of HeLa cells. The diC14-amidine liposomes displayed a much higher susceptibility to lipid mixing with the target membranes. They disrupted the membrane integrity of the HeLa cells, as detected using the propidium iodide permeabilization test. Morphological changes were transient and essentially did not affect the viability of the HeLa cells. The diC14-amidine liposomes were much more effective at either inducing lipid mixing or facilitating transfection.

Gene delivery by cationic lipid vectors: overcoming cellular barriers

Non-viral vectors such as cationic lipids are capable of delivering nucleic acids, including genes, siRNA or antisense RNA into cells, thus potentially resulting in their functional expression. These vectors are considered as an attractive alternative for virus-based delivery systems, which may suffer from immunological and mutational hazards. However, the efficiency of cationic-mediated gene delivery, although often sufficient for cell biological purposes, runs seriously short from a therapeutics point of view, as realizing this objective requires a higher level of transfection than attained thus far. To develop strategies for improvement, there is not so much a need for novel delivery systems. Rather, better insight is needed into the mechanism of delivery, including lipoplex-cell surface interaction, route of internalization and concomitant escape of DNA/RNA into the cytosol, and transport into the nucleus. Current work indicates that a major obstacle involves the relative inefficient destabilization of membrane-bounded compartments in which lipoplexes reside after their internalization by the cell. Such an activity requires the capacity of lipoplexes of undergoing polymorphic transitions such as a membrane destabilizing hexagonal phase, while cellular components may aid in this process. A consequence of the latter notion is that for development of a novel generation of delivery devices, entry pathways have to be triggered by specific targeting to select delivery into intracellular compartments which are most susceptible to lipoplex-induced destabilization, thereby allowing the most efficient release of DNA, a minimal requirement for optimizing non-viral vector-mediated transfection.

The effect of PS content on the ability of natural membranes to fuse with positively charged liposomes and lipoplexes

Supramolecular aggregates containing cationic lipids have been widely used as transfection mediators due to their ability to interact with negatively charged DNA molecules and biological membranes. First steps of the process leading to transfection are partly electrostatic, partly hydrophobic interactions of liposomes/lipoplexes with cell and/or endosomal membrane. Negatively charged compounds of biological membranes, namely glycolipids, glycoproteins and phosphatidylserine (PS), are responsible for such events as adsorption, hemifusion, fusion, poration and destabilization of natural membranes upon contact with cationic liposomes/lipoplexes. The present communication describes the dependence of interaction of cationic liposomes with natural and artificial membranes on the negative charge of the target membrane, charges which in most cases were generated by charging the PS content or its exposure. The model for the target membranes were liposomes of variable content of PS or PG (phosphatidylglycerol) and erythrocyte membranes in which the PS and other anionic compound content/exposure was modified in several ways. Membranes of increased anionic phospholipid content displayed increased fusion with DOTAP (1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammoniumpropane) liposomes, while erythrocyte membranes partly depleted of glycocalix, its sialic acid, in particular, showed a decreased fusion ability. The role of the anionic component is also supported by the fact that erythrocyte membrane inside-out vesicles fused easily with cationic liposomes. The data obtained on erythrocyte ghosts of normal and disrupted asymmetry, in particular, those obtained in the presence of Ca(2+), indicate the role of lipid flip-flop movement catalyzed by scramblase. The ATP-depletion of erythrocytes also induced an increased sensitivity to hemoglobin leakage upon interactions with DOTAP liposomes. Calcein leakage from anionic liposomes incubated with DOTAP liposomes was also dependent on surface charge of the target membranes. In all experiments with the asymmetric membranes the fusion level markedly increased with an increase of temperature, which supports the role of membrane lipid mobility. The decrease in positive charge by binding of plasmid DNA and the increase in ionic strength decreased the ability of DOTAP liposomes/lipoplexes to fuse with erythrocyte ghosts. Lower pH promotes fusion between erythrocyte ghosts and DOTAP liposomes and lipoplexes. The obtained results indicate that electrostatic interactions together with increased mobility of membrane lipids and susceptibility to form structures of negative curvature play a major role in the fusion of DOTAP liposomes with natural and artificial membranes.

Formation and intracellular trafficking of lipoplexes and polyplexes

Cationic lipid/DNA lipoplexes and cationic polymer/DNA polyplexes represent an attractive alternative to viral vectors for cell transfection in vitro and in vivo but still suffer from a relatively low efficiency. Optimization of their transfection efficiency may be attempted by using a trial and error approach consisting of synthesizing and testing a large number of derivatives. On the other hand, rational design of highly efficient cationic lipids and polymers requires a deeper understanding of the interactions between the vector and the DNA as well as the cellular pathways and mechanisms involved in DNA entry into the cell and ultimately the nucleus. In the present review, the pathways and mechanisms involved in lipoplex- and polyplex-mediated transfection are comparatively addressed and unresolved questions are highlighted.

Interaction of double-chained cationic surfactants, dimethyldialkylammoniums, with erythrocyte membranes: stabilization of the cationic vesicles by phosphatidylcholines with unsaturated fatty acyl chains

We studied the interaction of double-chained cationic surfactants, dimethyldialkylammoniums, (CH3)2N+(CnH2n+1)2, with the lipid bilayer of guinea-pig erythrocytes by observing the haemolysis, aggregation and shape change in the erythrocytes. In the presence of sonicated dispersions of the five dimethyldialkylammoniums tested (n = 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18), haemolysis was induced dose dependently, and at 0.1 mM or higher concentrations, haemolysis was induced more rapidly by dimethyldialkylammoniums with shorter alkyl chains. The cationic surfactants with longer alkyl chains, such as dimethyldipalmitylammonium, induced aggregation of the erythrocytes before haemolysis fully progressed. The vesicles of these long-chain dimethyldialkylammoniums in the presence of phosphatidylcholines with unsaturated fatty acyl chains markedly reduced the haemolysis rates. Furthermore, in the presence of phosphatidylcholines with unsaturated acyl chains the formation of tightly aggregated structures of several erythrocytes was observed. These findings, and analysis by spin label 5-doxylstearic acid, indicate that phosphatidylcholines enriched with unsaturated acyl chains stabilize the cationic vesicles of long-chain dimethyldialkylammoniums and the interaction with the lipid bilayer of erythrocyte membranes as cationic vesicles became prominent.

Role of intracellular cationic liposome-DNA complex dissociation in transfection mediated by cationic lipids

The cationic lipid-mediated gene transfer process involves sequential steps: internalization of the cationic lipid-DNA complexes inside the cells via an endocytosis-like mechanism, escape from endosomes, dissociation of the complex, and finally entry of free DNA into the nucleus. However, cationic lipid-DNA complex dissociation in the cytoplasm and the ability of the subsequently released DNA to enter the nucleus have not yet been demonstrated. In this report we showed, using confocal laser scanning analysis, that microinjection of a double fluorescent-labeled cationic lipid-pCMV-LacZ plasmid complex into the cytoplasm of HeLa cells results in efficient complex dissociation. However, the released DNA did not enter the nucleus, and no significant transfection could be detected. In contrast, nuclear microinjection of the cationic lipid-pCMV-LacZ plasmid complex resulted in efficient complex dissociation and transfection of all the cells. Taken together, the data suggest that intracellular dissociation of the cationic lipid-DNA complex is not a limiting step for transfection as previously thought.