Y. Ogawa et al., Synthesis of a novel lipopeptide with alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormonepeptide ligand and its effect on liposome stability, LIPIDS, 34(4), 1999, pp. 387-394
Introduction of liposomes into target cells is important for drug delivery
systems. For this purpose, the surface of the liposome is equipped with lig
and peptides, which may bind to specific receptors on the cell membrane. An
artificial novel lipopeptide (MSH-C4A2) containing the alpha-melanocyte-st
imulating hormone (alpha-MSH) sequence and two long alkyl chains was design
ed and synthesized, and the liposome, composed of egg phosphatidylcholine (
EPC) and MSH-C4A2, was prepared. The stability of the liposome was estimate
d by measuring calcein leakage from the liposome inner phase. The stability
of the liposome decreased upon addition of MSH-A4C2, which seemed to be at
tributable to the amphiphilic property of the peptide moiety (a-MSH) of MSH
-A2C4. The stability was, however, recovered fairly well upon addition of c
holesterol (Ch) or phosphatidylglycerol (PG). It was concluded therefore th
at the ternary system, MSH-C4A2/Ch/EPC or MSH-C4A2/PG/EPC, is suitable for
preparing the functional liposome.