I am planning to prepare liposomes with DMPC and phytosterols using the thin film method to encapsulate a hydrophobic drug. Usually, after the evaporation of the lipids in a vacuum assisted rotary evaporator, an additional drying step is perform to eliminate traces of solvent from the lipid film. Does flushing with an inert gas (such as Nitrogen) holds an advantage over drying in a vacuum desiccator?
Vacuum dessication is remarkable due to no disturbing caused while nitrogen flushing cause some disturb to most sensitive and critical biomolecules.
If you can use liposome for drugs delivery than my preference is vacuum dessication.
From my understanding, flushing isn't necessary. A good vacuum desiccation is likely to remove a vast majority of the solvent.
Avanti suggests nitrogen flushing won't substitute a good vacuum treatment https://avantilipids.com/tech-support/faqs/vacuum-lipids
Dear Swee Liang Kho it depends on how much sample you have. For larger amount of lipid, the last traces of solvent can be best removed by placing the sample under a high vacuum overnight. Smaller samples of lipid solution (less than ca. 1 mL) can easily be dried under a stream of nitrogen. Thus in the end both methods are useful. In this context, please have a look at the following useful ink:
Making Liposomes in the Lab
https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Biochemistry/Book%3A_Biochemistry_Online_(Jakubowski)/01%3A_LIPID_STRUCTURE/1.2%3A_Lipids_in_Water/1.2B%3A_Making_Lipsomes_in_the_Lab
Yet another potentially helpful link is the following:
How do I remove solvent from a small amount of lipid?
https://avantilipids.com/tech-support/faqs/removing-solvent
Good luck with your work!
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