SURFACE-PROPERTIES AND INTERACTIONS OF VESICLES

It is possible to manipulate the surface characteristics of lipid vesi cles, a unique class of colloidal particle, either through the lipid c omposition of the bilayer or by the introduction of surface macromolec ules. Their value as potential drug-carrier systems has led to surface manipulations to facilitate vesicle targeting and to prevent non-spec ific adsorption by the introduction of hydrophilic polymers (steric st abilization of vesicles). The modification of vesicle surfaces in rela tion to their powers of adsorption, aggregation and/or fusion has stim ulated much interest in the surface properties and interactions of ves icles and presents a major challenge in surface and colloidal science.