Research paperDispersion and stabilization of cochleate nanoparticles

- Cochleates are phospholipid-based, calcium-stabilized drug delivery vehicles.
- They tend to self-aggregate during production and storage.
- Transient addition of citric acid effectively disperses cochleate aggregates.
- Citric acid removes calcium ions from the cochleate surface.
- Dispersity and structure of the particles are stable for long time.

Cochleates, calcium-stabilized membrane rolls of nanoscale diameter, promise a unique and efficient way of delivering lipid-soluble drugs, proteins or nucleic acids into biological systems because they protect the encapsulated material against enzymatic or chemical degradation. Self-aggregation, which typically arises during production and storage is a major obstacle that has so far precluded the development of an efficient cochleate-based drug-delivery system. Here we show that citric acid, added transiently in a narrow concentration range, effectively disperses cochleate aggregates, stabilizes the disperse state for long-term storage and preserves the canonical ultrastructure and topological characteristics of cochleate nanoparticles.

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