Abstract

The natural vesicles, microscopic spherical structures defined by a single or many lipid bilayer membranes, not only entrap but are also dispersed in the aqueous environment. The space division between inner and outer compartments is also the basic characteristics of cell membranes playing several essential functions in all living organisms. Thus, vesicles are a simple model system for studying various cellular properties. In the last few decades, synthetic vesicles (or liposomes) have gained substantial popularity from many academia as model membranes and from many pharmaceutical industries as targeted and controlled drug delivery systems. The manufacturing of vesicles with desired characteristics that can entrap and release the drugs as required is one of the major challenges in this research area. To this end, a better understanding of the mechanical and transport properties of vesicles is essential to gain deeper insight into the fundamental biological mechanisms of vesicle formation and cellular uptake. The requirement has brought the modifications in membrane composition (with cholesterol, charged lipid, proteins, peptides, polymers, etc.) and solution conditions (with salts, pH, buffers, etc.). This article mainly focuses on the different techniques developed for studying the mechanical and transport properties of natural/synthetic vesicles. In particular, I thoroughly review the properties such as bending and stretching elastic moduli, lysis tension, and permeability of vesicle membranes.

摘要

天然囊泡，由单个或多个脂质双层膜定义的微观球形结构，不仅捕获而且分散在水性环境中。内室和外室之间的空间划分也是细胞膜在所有生物体中发挥多种基本功能的基本特征。因此，囊泡是研究各种细胞特性的简单模型系统。在过去的几十年中，合成囊泡（或脂质体）作为模型膜在许多学术界和许多制药行业作为靶向和受控的药物递送系统获得了广泛的普及。制造具有所需特性的囊泡，可以根据需要截留和释放药物，是该研究领域的主要挑战之一。为此，更好地了解囊泡的机械和运输特性对于深入了解囊泡形成和细胞摄取的基本生物学机制至关重要。该要求带来了膜组成（使用胆固醇、带电脂质、蛋白质、肽、聚合物等）和溶液条件（使用盐、pH、缓冲液等）的修改。本文主要关注为研究天然/合成囊泡的机械和运输特性而开发的不同技术。特别是，我彻底回顾了囊泡膜的弯曲和拉伸弹性模量、裂解张力和渗透性等特性。该要求带来了膜组成（使用胆固醇、带电脂质、蛋白质、肽、聚合物等）和溶液条件（使用盐、pH、缓冲液等）的修改。本文主要关注为研究天然/合成囊泡的机械和运输特性而开发的不同技术。特别是，我彻底回顾了囊泡膜的弯曲和拉伸弹性模量、裂解张力和渗透性等特性。该要求带来了膜组成（使用胆固醇、带电脂质、蛋白质、肽、聚合物等）和溶液条件（使用盐、pH、缓冲液等）的修改。本文主要关注为研究天然/合成囊泡的机械和运输特性而开发的不同技术。特别是，我彻底回顾了囊泡膜的弯曲和拉伸弹性模量、裂解张力和渗透性等特性。