299
Thomas Mavromoustakos et al. (eds.), Supramolecules in Drug Discovery and Drug Delivery: Methods and Protocols,
Methods in Molecular Biology, vol. 2207, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0920-0_21,
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2021
Chapter 21
A Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) Experimental
Protocol for Evaluating the Modified Thermotropic
Behavior of Liposomes with Incorporated Guest Molecules
Maria Chountoulesi, Nikolaos Naziris, Thomas Mavromoustakos,
and Costas Demetzos
Abstract
Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is a well-established technique, suitable to monitor the interactions that may take place among the drug delivery systems of liposomes and the potential bioactive molecules that are incorporated inside them. Moreover, the DSC technique is considered to be a useful tool to
characterize the thermal behavior of lipidic bilayers in the absence and presence of drugs and to highlight
parameters, such as the cooperativity between the lipids and the guest molecules (i.e. drugs, polymers,
dendrimers), providing also a prediction of the behavior of potential future drug delivery liposomal platforms. In this study, a protocol for DSC measurements on liposomal systems with incorporated guest
molecules is described.
Key words Differential scanning calorimetry, Liposomes, Lipid bilayers, Guest molecules, Chimeric,
Thermal behavior
1 Introduction
Vesicular phospholipid bilayers are easily prepared and have been
proven to be very useful models toward the simulation of cell
membranes and the performance of biophysical experiments,
regarding the effects of the incorporation of guest molecules into
membranes. The aforementioned guest molecules can be drugs,
bioactive agents, or biocompatible molecules such as polymers and
dendrimers [1–5]. DSC is characterized as a fast, diagnostic, and
relatively inexpensive technique that is able to highlight the thermotropic properties of lipidic membranes in the presence of incorporated guest molecules, screen the interactions that are taking
place between them, and investigate the potential effects that may
be caused by the incorporation of additives [6]. Furthermore, the
Thomas Mavromoustakos et al. (eds.), Supramolecules in Drug Discovery and Drug Delivery: Methods and Protocols,
Methods in Molecular Biology, vol. 2207, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0920-0_21,
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2021
Chapter 21
A Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) Experimental
Protocol for Evaluating the Modified Thermotropic
Behavior of Liposomes with Incorporated Guest Molecules
Maria Chountoulesi, Nikolaos Naziris, Thomas Mavromoustakos,
and Costas Demetzos
Abstract
Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is a well-established technique, suitable to monitor the interactions that may take place among the drug delivery systems of liposomes and the potential bioactive molecules that are incorporated inside them. Moreover, the DSC technique is considered to be a useful tool to
characterize the thermal behavior of lipidic bilayers in the absence and presence of drugs and to highlight
parameters, such as the cooperativity between the lipids and the guest molecules (i.e. drugs, polymers,
dendrimers), providing also a prediction of the behavior of potential future drug delivery liposomal platforms. In this study, a protocol for DSC measurements on liposomal systems with incorporated guest
molecules is described.
Key words Differential scanning calorimetry, Liposomes, Lipid bilayers, Guest molecules, Chimeric,
Thermal behavior
1 Introduction
Vesicular phospholipid bilayers are easily prepared and have been
proven to be very useful models toward the simulation of cell
membranes and the performance of biophysical experiments,
regarding the effects of the incorporation of guest molecules into
membranes. The aforementioned guest molecules can be drugs,
bioactive agents, or biocompatible molecules such as polymers and
dendrimers [1–5]. DSC is characterized as a fast, diagnostic, and
relatively inexpensive technique that is able to highlight the thermotropic properties of lipidic membranes in the presence of incorporated guest molecules, screen the interactions that are taking
place between them, and investigate the potential effects that may
be caused by the incorporation of additives [6]. Furthermore, the