Self-assembly and immobilization of liposomes in fused-silica capillary byavidin-biotin binding

Small and large unilamellar biotinylated liposomes (SUVs and LUVs) composed of egg phosphatidylcholine and 2 mol% of biotinylated phosphatidylethanola mine were assembled in the presence of avidin at a low concentration (0.05- 0.1 mg ml(-1)) and simultaneously immobilized in fused-silica capillary tub ing. LUV assemblies were immobilized to 21 nmol phospholipid in one capilla ry, about twice as high as found for the SUV assemblies. Estimated values s howed that the capillary inner surface was coated by 4-15 liposome layers. The liposome-coated capillary can be used in capillary electrophoresis for microanalysis of drug membrane interactions. This avidin-biotin-assembly me thod may also be applied to immobilize liposomes or proteoliposomes in a hi gh order on a planar solid surface for construction of biomaterials. (C) 19 98 Elsevier Science Limited. All rights reserved.