Solubilization of large unilamellar liposomes by alkyl glycosides

The study of biological membranes involves the dissociation, characterization and re-assembly of membrane components. The most important aspect of this approach is the use of an appropriate surfactant as solubilizing agent. In this work the solubilization of large unilamellar liposomes by alkyl glycosides has been studied. Solubilization of phospholipid bilayer is produced by the formation of surfactant-phospholipid mixed micelles. Some pure alkyl glycosides as well as two commercial alkyl polyglucosides have been tested. This has permitted the study of the solubilizing capacity of the phospholipidic bilayer of different alkyl glycosides as a function of their structure. Among the alkyl glycosides tested, dodecyl maltoside has shown the lowest critical micelle concentration as well as the highest solubilizing capacity, i.e., the minimal surfactant/phospholipid molar ratio in the mixed micelles. (C) 1997 Academic Press.