RNAi gene silencing using cerasome as a viral-size siRNA-carrier free from fusion and cross-linking.

Surface-rigidified cerasomes (ceramic-coated liposomes) are neither fused nor cross-linked when bound to siRNA (short duplex RNA) but not to plasmid DNA (long duplex DNA) which induces cross-linking. Non-ceramic reference liposomes are easily fused by the siRNA. The cerasome can thus be used as a viral-size siRNA-carrier in a wide range of concentration for RNAi silencing of exogenous and endogenous genes.

Cerasome as an infusible, cell-friendly, and serum-compatible transfection agent in a viral size.

Alanine-based cationic lipid 1 having a (EtO)3SiCH2CH2CH2 group on the quaternized ammonium nitrogen forms a liposome which self-rigidifies via in situ sol-gel processes (Si-OEt + H2O --> Si-OH + EtOH followed by 2Si-OH --> Si-O-Si + H2O) on the surface. The resulting cerasome (partially ceramic- or silica-coated liposome) (60-70 nm) retains the integrity of such in the complexation with lucifarase-encoding plasmid DNA pGL3. The resultant pGL3 complex of infusible or monomeric cerasome in a viral size ( approximately 70 nm) exhibits a remarkable transfection performance toward HeLa and HepG2 cells with a 102-3-fold higher efficiency (relative to that of the nonsilylated reference lipid 2), minimized cytotoxicity, and serum compatibility. Reference lipid 2, i.e., alanine-based lipid having a simple quaternized ammonium headgroup, forms liposome (60-70 nm) which is less self-confined and more mobile undergoes DNA-induced fusion to give endocytosis-irrelevant and more toxic bigger (100-300 nm) particles. The silicon strategy thus provides a simple and widely applicable tool to overcome general problems associated with current technology of artificial gene delivery.

Interesterification activity of Rhizopus delemar lipase in phospholipid microemulsions.

The interesterification of olive oil with palmitic acid catalyzed by Rhizopus delemar lipase was investigated in phospholipid microemulsion systems. Soybean lecithin was used as the amphiphilic component. The maximal reaction rate was obtained at a buffer pH of 5.5-6.0. The reaction rate was also dependent on the W(L) (= [H2O]/[lecithin]) value and attained a maximum at W(L)=5. The reaction rate reached a maximum at a palmitic acid concentration of 350 mM. The molar fraction of the interesterified product 1,3-dipalmitoyl-3-oleoyl glycerol (POP) in the olive oil was enhanced from 2.8 to 65.6 mol% after 24 h of the reaction.