The design of liposomes with a hydrophilic/steric barrier at their bilayer surface allows the modification of their pharmacokinetics and reduces the uptake by the RES. Liposomes can be coated by hydrophilic molecules such as polysaccharides, which disguise the vesicle surface by creating a three-dimensional matrix near them and prevent the binding of plasma proteins and their recognition by some cellular receptors. All these considerations, and previous results obtained in our laboratory showing the formation of stable GAG-liposome complexes, have lead us to think about the use of the negatively charged glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), alternately to other molecules such as the monosialoganglioside GM1, more expensive, or polyethylene glycol (PEG-PE) that can disturb the structural organization of the bilayer. The present paper describes the effect of the incorporation of GAGs to phospholipid vesicles, in relation to their electrical and permeability properties. The results obtained show that there is an effective coating of the bilayer surface when glycosaminoglycans are added to liposome suspensions. The shielding of the negative surface charge by the neutral hyaluronic acid, in the absence of calcium, and the increase in the negative charge when the negative polyelectrolytes chondroitin sulfate, heparin or dextran sulfate are added to calcium-containing liposome suspensions account for the formation of stable liposome-GAG complexes. Moreover, the reduced permeability of the GAG-coated liposomes points out on their ability to hold encapsulated drugs and, so, their potential usefulness as drug-sustained release carriers. The hydrophilic coating will give to these liposomal carriers long-circulating properties.
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