Stability of binary model membranes—Prediction of the liposome stability by the Langmuir monolayer study

In this paper, usefulness of the Langmuir monolayer study is demonstrated for predictions of the stability of liposomes composed of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and cholesterol (Chol). Thermodynamic analysis of the surface pressure (π)–area (A) isotherms of the DPPC/Chol systems was performed, which allowed for concluding on miscibility of the components, their molecular packing, and the interactions between molecules. It was found that the most stable system, in which the strongest interactions between molecules occured, was DPPC/Chol at xChol = 0.25. The stability of liposomes of the same composition as that in the Langmuir monolayers was analyzed by determining the size distribution of vesicles and the polydispersity as a function of time. The changes of these parameters confirmed that the system of the greatest stability is that with low Chol content.

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► Stable DPPC/Chol complexes of 3:1 stoichiometry exist at the air/water interface.
► The most stable liposomes contain the smallest amount of Chol (xChol = 0.25).
► Usefulness of the Langmuir monolayer study to predict stability of liposomes.