Interaction between cells and poly(ethylene glycol)-lipid conjugates

•Interaction of PEG-lipids carrying different lipid parts with cells were examined.•Cell membrane was modified with PEG-lipids within 15 min without cytotoxicity.•PEG-lipid densities on cell surface ranged from 10−3 to 10−2 molecules/nm2.•Hydrophobicity of lipid part affects dissociation rate but not anchoring rate.

Eight types of poly(ethylene glycol)-lipid(PEG-lipids) carrying different lipid tails were synthesized. These PEG-lipids were labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC-PEG-lipids) to examine their interaction with cells and to quantitatively determine amounts of PEG-lipids bound on the cell surface. FITC-PEG-lipids spontaneously anchored to the cell membrane within 15 min without loss of cell viability. The type of lipid had very little effect on the anchoring rates, while an increase in the hydrophobicity of the lipid portion of the PEG-lipids slowed their dissociation rates. Densities of FITC-PEG-lipids on the cell surface ranged from 1 × 10−3 to 1 × 10−2 molecules/nm2, depending on the kinds of lipids employed. The relationship between the stability of the lipids on the cell membrane and the hydrophobicity of the lipid moieties will give a basis for the selection of a hydrophobic moiety in PEG-lipid conjugates for use in specific applications.

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