Giant Unilamellar Vesicle Electroformation: What to Use, What to Avoid, and How to Quantify the Results
Since its inception more than thirty years ago, electroformation has become the most commonly used method for growing giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). Although the method seems quite straightforward at first, researchers must consider the interplay of a large number of parameters, different lipid...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Membranes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/11/11/860 |
| _version_ | 1797509417316384768 |
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| author | Zvonimir Boban Ivan Mardešić Witold Karol Subczynski Marija Raguz |
| author_facet | Zvonimir Boban Ivan Mardešić Witold Karol Subczynski Marija Raguz |
| author_sort | Zvonimir Boban |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Since its inception more than thirty years ago, electroformation has become the most commonly used method for growing giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). Although the method seems quite straightforward at first, researchers must consider the interplay of a large number of parameters, different lipid compositions, and internal solutions in order to avoid artifactual results or reproducibility problems. These issues motivated us to write a short review of the most recent methodological developments and possible pitfalls. Additionally, since traditional manual analysis can lead to biased results, we have included a discussion on methods for automatic analysis of GUVs. Finally, we discuss possible improvements in the preparation of GUVs containing high cholesterol contents in order to avoid the formation of artifactual cholesterol crystals. We intend this review to be a reference for those trying to decide what parameters to use as well as an overview providing insight into problems not yet addressed or solved. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:17:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-087e0368e4264c389e6b6851b36bc36a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0375 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:17:24Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Membranes |
| spelling | doaj.art-087e0368e4264c389e6b6851b36bc36a2023-11-23T00:19:41ZengMDPI AGMembranes2077-03752021-11-01111186010.3390/membranes11110860Giant Unilamellar Vesicle Electroformation: What to Use, What to Avoid, and How to Quantify the ResultsZvonimir Boban0Ivan Mardešić1Witold Karol Subczynski2Marija Raguz3Department of Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Split School of Medicine, 21000 Split, CroatiaDepartment of Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Split School of Medicine, 21000 Split, CroatiaDepartment of Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USADepartment of Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Split School of Medicine, 21000 Split, CroatiaSince its inception more than thirty years ago, electroformation has become the most commonly used method for growing giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). Although the method seems quite straightforward at first, researchers must consider the interplay of a large number of parameters, different lipid compositions, and internal solutions in order to avoid artifactual results or reproducibility problems. These issues motivated us to write a short review of the most recent methodological developments and possible pitfalls. Additionally, since traditional manual analysis can lead to biased results, we have included a discussion on methods for automatic analysis of GUVs. Finally, we discuss possible improvements in the preparation of GUVs containing high cholesterol contents in order to avoid the formation of artifactual cholesterol crystals. We intend this review to be a reference for those trying to decide what parameters to use as well as an overview providing insight into problems not yet addressed or solved.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/11/11/860electroformationGUVscholesterollipid compositionlipid depositionelectrical parameters |
| spellingShingle | Zvonimir Boban Ivan Mardešić Witold Karol Subczynski Marija Raguz Giant Unilamellar Vesicle Electroformation: What to Use, What to Avoid, and How to Quantify the Results Membranes electroformation GUVs cholesterol lipid composition lipid deposition electrical parameters |
| title | Giant Unilamellar Vesicle Electroformation: What to Use, What to Avoid, and How to Quantify the Results |
| title_full | Giant Unilamellar Vesicle Electroformation: What to Use, What to Avoid, and How to Quantify the Results |
| title_fullStr | Giant Unilamellar Vesicle Electroformation: What to Use, What to Avoid, and How to Quantify the Results |
| title_full_unstemmed | Giant Unilamellar Vesicle Electroformation: What to Use, What to Avoid, and How to Quantify the Results |
| title_short | Giant Unilamellar Vesicle Electroformation: What to Use, What to Avoid, and How to Quantify the Results |
| title_sort | giant unilamellar vesicle electroformation what to use what to avoid and how to quantify the results |
| topic | electroformation GUVs cholesterol lipid composition lipid deposition electrical parameters |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/11/11/860 |
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