Vesicle Origami: Cuboid Phospholipid Vesicles Formed by Template‐Free Self‐Assembly. (26th April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Neuhaus, Frederik; Mueller, Dennis; Tanasescu, Radu; Balog, Sandor; Ishikawa, Takashi; Brezesinski, Gerald; Zumbuehl, Andreas
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie. Volume 129:Number 23(2017)
• Page Start: 6615
• Page End: 6618
• Publication Date: 2017-04-26
• Subjects: Membranspannung -- Phospholipide -- Selbstorganisation -- Vesikel-Origami -- Würfelförmige Vesikel; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/ange.201701634
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0044-8249

Abstract

Abstract: Phospholipid liposomes are archetypical self‐assembled structures. To minimize the surface tension, the vesicles typically are spherical. Deciphering the bilayer code, the basic physical interactions between phospholipids would allow these molecules to be utilized as building blocks for novel, non‐spherical structures. A 1, 2‐diamidophospholipid is presented that self‐assembles into a cuboid structure. Owing to intermolecular hydrogen bonding, the bilayer membranes form an exceptionally tight subgel packing, leading to a maximization of flat structural elements and a minimization of any edges. These conditions are optimized in the geometrical structure of a cube. Surprisingly, the lateral surface pressure in the membrane is only one third of the value typically assumed for a bilayer membrane, questioning a long‐standing rule‐of‐thumb.