Glucose-sensitivity of liposomes incorporating conjugates of glucose oxidase and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-methacrylic acid-co-octadecylacrylate)

Liposomes, which release their contents in response to the concentration of glucose, were prepared by modifying the liposomal surface with the conjugate of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-methacrylic acid-co-octadecylacrylate) (P(NIPAM-co-MAA-co-ODA)) and glucose oxidase (GOD). The maximum enzymatic activity of copolymer conjugated GOD (Polym-GOD) was observed around pH 5.0 and the value was about 40% of that of native GOD. Nine lysine residues per GOD molecule, on average, were found to be covalently attached to the copolymers. Egg phosphatidylcholine liposomes bearing Polym-GOD released their contents in response to the concentration of glucose and the sensitivity was higher than dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes.