Liposome Preparation

OBJECTIVE:

Method for incorporating proteins into liposomes for liposome swelling assay or as an alternative antigen presentation method.

REAGENTS:

Dioleoyl Phosphatidyl Choline

Buffer of choice / distilled water

METHODS:

Dry 0.5 mmole of dioleoyl phosphatidyl choline under nitrogen in a disposable glass tube.

Evacuate in dessicator under vacuum for 30 minutes.

Add buffer / dH20 to required volume and scrape the sides of the glass tube to dislodge the lipid.

Add protein at 1 mg/ul of lipid used.

Vortex for 30 seconds. Sonicate twice in a bath sonicator at 7 degree for 15 sec.

This makes multilamellar vesicles that become small unilamellar vesicles (SUV) with prolonged sonication time. To make large unilamellar vesicles, use the extruder.