Advances in Biomembranes and Lipid Self-Assembly

Elsevier

Lugar: Londres ; Año: 2024 p. 90

978-0-443-29636-9

Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) serve as a biomimetic model for understanding thebiophysical properties of cellular membranes. This simplified model allows for con-trolled studies of membrane behavior under various stimuli, such as temperature ormedia changes, or the presence of drugs, thereby providing valuable insights intomembrane dynamics and cell processes, such as viral infection and transport phe-nomena. Among the various methods to produce GUVs, electroformation and gel-assisted formation are the most widely used and allow tailoring membrane properties.This article provides a comparative analysis of both techniques, detailing theirrespective strengths and limitations in terms of efficiency, reproducibility, and struc-tural control. Additionally, the importance of selecting the appropriate method forspecific research applications is highlighted. By advancing our understanding of thismembrane model, this work contributes to the advancement of synthetic biology andthe design of bioinspired materials, including drug delivery systems.