Langmuir 2011-07-19

Hydrogen-bond-directed giant unilamellar vesicles of guanosine derivative: preparation, properties, and fusion.

Jun Sawayama, Hirotoshi Sakaino, Shin-ichiro Kabashima, Isao Yoshikawa, Koji Araki

Index: Langmuir 27(14) , 8653-8, (2011)

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Abstract

By mixing a small volume of THF containing guanosine derivative 1 and tetraethylenegrycol dodecyl ether (TEGDE) with water and subsequently removing TEGDE by gel permeation chromatography, micrometer-sized giant unilamellar vesicles (GUV) of 1 were successfully prepared. The vesicle membrane was a 2-D sheet assembly of thickness 2.5 nm, composed of a 2-D inter-guanine hydrogen-bond network. The GUV dispersion showed high stability because of a large negative zeta potential, which allowed repeated sedimentation and redispersion by centrifugation and subsequent gentle agitation. TEGDE-triggered fusion of GUVs took place within 350 ms, which proceeded by fusion of the vesicle membranes in contact. These unique static and dynamic properties of the GUV membrane assembled by the 2-D hydrogen-bond network are discussed.