INHIBITION EFFECT OF AGGREGATION OF PHOSPHOLIPID-VESICLES BY INCORPORATION OF GLYCOLIPIDS

Oligosaccharide fatty acid esters (glycolipids) [GkmCn; k, number of α-1,4-bound glucose unit (G) (k = 2, 5, 7); m, number of fatty acid (C) (m = 1, 2); and n, number of methylene unit (n = 12, 16, 22)] were synthesized. Aggregation of unilamellar vesicles of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) below a gel-to-liquid crystalline phase transition temperature (43°C) were inhibited by incorporation of glycolipids into bilayer membrane and G51C16 was clarified to be the most effective structure. The complete inhibition by G51C16 could be achieved by the addition of 2 mol% of G51C16 to less than 0.5 wt% of DPPC liposomes at room temperature. This glycolipid also restricts the aggregation of liposomes induced by polyethyleneglycol or polysaccharide and improves the packing of lipids in the bilayer membrane. © 1992.