Swelling of Charged Lipids and Formation of Liposomes on Electrode Surfaces

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Abstract
External electric fields can induce liposorne formation on electrode surfaces if the swelling lipid is in liquid crystalline state. The lipid swelling and liposome formation depend on the type of the lipid, the dried lipid layer thickness, the medium parameters (temperature, osmolarity, ionic strength), the type and the parameters of the electric field (direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC), amplitude, frequency) and the time of exposure. This paper reviews some of our previous experimental results and theoretical estimates for those effects and presents new data and estimates for the effects of lipid charge and lipid layer thickness. The basic conclusion is that the electric fields can affect lipid swelling and liposome formation by at least six mechanisms: (1) electrostatic interactions between the field and the bilayers, (2) electroostnotically induced mechanical stresses, (3) redistribution of double layer counter-ions between the bilayers, (4) decreased surface, membrane arid line tensions, (5) electrochemical reactions and (6) injection of charges from the electrodes. Speculation increases from 1 to 6.

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