Preparation of ganglioside GM3 liposomes and their membrane properties

Ganglioside G(M3) (GM3) liposomes were prepared by the Bangham method and a reverse-phase evaporation method (RPE method), and the particle size, dispersibility, trapping efficiency, adsorption amount of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on the liposomes and leakage of aqueous-space markers from the liposomes in the presence of BSA were examined. The particle size of the liposomes prepared by the Bangham method was smaller and the trapping efficiency was low, while reasonable liposomes being approximately 150 nm in diameter and having about 3% trapping efficiency were able to be prepared by the RPE method. The entrapped efficiency of glucose in the liposomes was higher than that of calcein because of the electrostatic repulsion between negatively charged GM3 liposomes and calcein. No significant adsorption of BSA on the GM3 liposomes and thus no significant leakage of aqueous-space markers from the liposomes in the presence of BSA were observed. The GM3 liposomes were relatively stable in the presence of BSA. The dispersibility and uniformity of the GM3 liposomes were also superior. In addition, the leakage of aqueous-space markers from the GM3 liposomes by freeze-drying was extremely low. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.