Liposomal Fluorescent Dyes

For tracking liposome distributions in biological systems

Fluorescence dyes encapsulated in liposomes are used to track liposome distributions in biological systems. 

The pH-sensitive fluorescence dyes such as Rhodamine delivered by liposomes into cells may be used to monitor pH changes in the cells. The liposomal fluorescence dyes contain 0.1 mM fluorescence dyes encapsulated in PEGylated or non-PEGylated liposomes. The total lipid concentration is 15 mg/ml. 

The PEGylated liposomes are composed of hydrogenated soy phosphocholine (HSPC), 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[methoxy(polyethylene glycol)-2000] (DSPE-PEG2000) and cholesterol in a mass ratio of HSPC:DSPE-PEG2000:Cholesterol = 3:1:1. 

The non-PEGylated liposomes are composed of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) and cholesterol in a mass ratio of 1.9:1. 

The fluorescence dye encapsulation percentage is more than 99 %. The average size of liposomes is about 80 nm with a poly dispersity index (dpi) of 0.1.