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Structural characterization of lipidic systems under nonequilibrium conditions

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Abstract

This review covers recent studies on the characterization of the dynamics of lipidic nanostructures formed via self-assembly processes. The focus is placed on two main topics: First, an overview of advanced experimental small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) setups combined with various sample manipulation techniques including, for instance, stop-flow mixing or rapid temperature-jump perturbation is given. Second, our recent synchrotron SAXS findings on the dynamic structural response of gold nanoparticle-loaded vesicles upon exposure to an ultraviolet light source, the impact of rapidly mixing negatively charged vesicles with calcium ions, and in situ hydration-induced formation of inverted-type liquid-crystalline phases loaded with the local anesthetic bupivacaine are summarized. These in situ time-resolved experiments allow real-time monitoring of the dynamics of the structural changes and the possible formation of intermediate states in the millisecond to second range. The need for investigating self-assembled systems, mainly stimuli-responsive drug nanocarriers, under nonequilibrium conditions is discussed. For pharmaceutically relevant applications, it is essential to combine these investigations with appropriate in vitro and in vivo studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Anan Yaghmur

  2. Institute of Biophysics and Nanosystems Research (IBN), Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria

    Michael Rappolt

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  1. Anan Yaghmur
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  2. Michael Rappolt
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Correspondence to Anan Yaghmur or Michael Rappolt.

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Special Issue: Scattering techniques in biology—Marking the contributions to the field from Peter Laggner on the occasion of his 68th birthday.

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Yaghmur, A., Rappolt, M. Structural characterization of lipidic systems under nonequilibrium conditions. Eur Biophys J 41, 831–840 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00249-012-0815-7

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