Lyophilized Liposomes - Diether Lipids

Lyophilized liposomes product series are freeze-dried liposomes with various types of lipids and wide range of zeta potentials and different properties. These products should be used by scientists who understand liposome formulation and have the proper equipment to check the size, separate non-encapsulated drugs and do the proper assays.
Liposomes are extensively used to study the interaction of proteins, peptides and other molecules with the surface of a lipid membrane. One of the parameters that affects this interaction is the charge of the liposomal membrane. Liposomes are always made in aqueous environment and they are sized to the desired size in liquid state using various methods such as high-pressure extrusion through nano sized pore track etch membranes. In rare occasions, liposomes are freeze dried and proliposomes are formed in the presence of a lyoprotectant such as trehalose. Using a lyoprotectant is necessary in order to maintain the size of the liposomes after rehydration.
Liposomes made from ether lipids exhibit very unique characteristics and performance: a) the ether bonds are more stable than ester linkages over a wide range of acidic or alkaline pH; b) stability properties of the liposomes is enhanced by bipolar lipids, and the saturated alkyl chains gives stability towards degradation in oxidative conditions; c) the unusual stereochemistry of the glycerol backbone enhance the resistance against the attacks by other organism phospholipases.
Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) cannot hydrolyze the ether lipid liposomes. Diether lipids do not go through hydrolysis due to having an ether bond instead of an acyl bond and therefore to do that, they are a suitable candidate for experiments that needs to be performed at a higher temperature for an extended period of time.