Degradation of liposome cluster caused by the interaction with endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs)

The interaction between endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and liposome clusters was investigated using UV-vis spectroscopy and observed by microscope. Since liposome clusters are composed of small unilamellar liposomes and membrane proteins, they are regarded as a model of plasma membranes. The size of each cluster was 10 μm in diameter. UV-vis spectroscopy of liposome clusters showed an apparent absorption at 300 nm which was affected by the interaction with EDCs. Four EDCs caused an alteration in absorption in a concentration-dependence manner between 0.1 and 10 ppm (i.e. 0.1-10 mg/l). Microscopic observation showed that the effect was caused by the degradation of liposome clusters while degradation was induced by the interaction; liposome was broken down by EDCs. This report suggests that the liposome cluster can be applied for universal detection of EDCs based on the interaction between a plasma membrane model and EDCs.