Highly efficient protein-free membrane fusion: a giant vesicle study

Membrane fusion is a ubiquitous process in biology and is a prerequisite for many intracellular delivery protocols relying on the use of liposomes as drug carriers. Here, we investigate in detail the process of membrane fusion and the role of opposite charges in a protein-free lipid system based on cationic liposomes (LUVs) and anionic giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) composed of different palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylcholine:palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylglycerol (POPC:POPG) molar ratios. By using a set of optical microscopy- and microfluidics-based methods, we show that liposomes strongly dock to GUVs of pure POPC or low POPG fraction (up to 10 mol%), in a process mainly associated with hemifusion and membrane tension increase, commonly leading to GUV rupture.

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