The modification of erythrocyte membrane properties provides a new tool towards improved drug delivery and biomedical applications. The fabrication of hybrid erythrocyte liposomes is presented by doping red blood cell membranes with synthetic lipid molecules of different classes (PC, PS, PG) and different degrees of saturation (14:0, 16:0–18:1). The respective solubility limits are determined, and material properties of the hybrid liposomes are studied by a combination of X‐ray diffraction, epi‐fluorescent microscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), Zeta potential, UV‐vis spectroscopy, and Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. Membrane thickness and lipid orientation can be tuned through the addition of phosphatidylcholine lipids. The hybrid membranes can be fluorescently labelled by incorporating Texas‐red DHPE, and their charge modified by incorporating phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylglycerol. By using fluorescein labeled dextran as an example, it is demonstrated that small molecules can be encapsulated into these hybrid liposomes.
In article number 1900185, Maikel C. Rheinstädter and co‐workers prepare hybrid red blood cell liposomes with tunable membrane properties (e.g. morphology, charge, mechanical properties) by modifying red blood cell membranes with synthetic lipids of different classes. By encapsulating small molecules, the perfect carriers for targeted drug delivery are developed, which minimize immune reactions while circulating in the blood stream for extended periods of time.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.