Stable clusters in liposomic systems

作者：Sabin Juan^*; Prieto Gerardo; Sarmiento Felix

来源：Soft Matter, 2012, 8(11): 3212-3222.

DOI：10.1039/c2sm06907e

The formation of stable clusters in colloidal systems is usually explained by the combination of a short ranged attractive force and a repulsive force with an interaction range in the order of the colloidal particle size. Using light scattering techniques we studied five different liposomic systems undergoing aggregation through five different mechanisms: aggregation by charge neutralization, DLCA and RLCA by charge screening, aggregation in a secondary minimum, depletion attraction and %26quot;patchy%26quot; electrostatic interactions. Surprisingly, three of these systems lead to the formation of stable clusters despite the Debye length of the electrostatic repulsion being less than 5% of the diameter of the liposomes. Alternative explanations for the stabilization of the clusters are discussed using non-DLVO forces. The understanding and controlling of the formation of stable clusters of liposomes may have an important impact in their application as a drug delivery system.

• 出版日期2012