THE USE OF DIFFERENTIAL SCANNING CALORIMETRY AS A TOOL TO CHARACTERIZE LIPOSOME PREPARATIONS

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measures the temperature-depen dence of the excess heat capacity of a system due to thermal phase tra nsitions. Heat capacity curves of liposomes that undergo such transiti ons contain information on the enthalpy and entropy of these transitio ns. Being sensitive to both the chemical composition of these liposome s and their physical state (especially size), DSC can serve as a power ful tool for quality control of liposomes. If calorimetric criteria ar e appropriately established using a proper reference lipid sample, the quality and stability of a liposomal preparation which has a distinct thermogram can be assessed by DSC.