TY - JOUR
T1 - Environmental scanning electron microscopy offers real-time morphological analysis of liposomes and niosomes
AU - Perrie, Yvonne
AU - Mohammed, Afzal U R
AU - Vangala, Anil
AU - McNeil, Sarah E
PY - 2007/1/31
Y1 - 2007/1/31
N2 - Liposomes have been imaged using a plethora of techniques. However, few of these methods offer the ability to study these systems in their natural hydrated state without the requirement of drying, staining, and fixation of the vesicles. However, the ability to image a liposome in its hydrated state is the ideal scenario for visualization of these dynamic lipid structures and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), with its ability to image wet systems without prior sample preparation, offers potential advantages to the above methods. In our studies, we have used ESEM to not only investigate the morphology of liposomes and niosomes but also to dynamically follow the changes in structure of lipid films and liposome suspensions as water condenses on to or evaporates from the sample. In particular, changes in liposome morphology were studied using ESEM in real time to investigate the resistance of liposomes to coalescence during dehydration thereby providing an alternative assay of liposome formulation and stability. Based on this protocol, we have also studied niosome-based systems and cationic liposome/DNA complexes.
AB - Liposomes have been imaged using a plethora of techniques. However, few of these methods offer the ability to study these systems in their natural hydrated state without the requirement of drying, staining, and fixation of the vesicles. However, the ability to image a liposome in its hydrated state is the ideal scenario for visualization of these dynamic lipid structures and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), with its ability to image wet systems without prior sample preparation, offers potential advantages to the above methods. In our studies, we have used ESEM to not only investigate the morphology of liposomes and niosomes but also to dynamically follow the changes in structure of lipid films and liposome suspensions as water condenses on to or evaporates from the sample. In particular, changes in liposome morphology were studied using ESEM in real time to investigate the resistance of liposomes to coalescence during dehydration thereby providing an alternative assay of liposome formulation and stability. Based on this protocol, we have also studied niosome-based systems and cationic liposome/DNA complexes.
KW - cations
KW - DNA
KW - drug carriers
KW - drug stability
KW - ibuprofen
KW - liposomes
KW - electron micrioscopy
KW - microscopy, electron, scanning
KW - phospholipids
KW - surface-active agents
UR - http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08982100601186508
U2 - 10.1080/08982100601186508
DO - 10.1080/08982100601186508
M3 - Article
C2 - 17454401
SN - 0898-2104
VL - 17
SP - 27
EP - 37
JO - Journal of Liposome Research
JF - Journal of Liposome Research
IS - 1
ER -