Liposome Methods and Protocols (Methods in Molecular Biology, 199)

In vitro utilization of liposomes is now recognized as a powerful tool in many bioscience investigations and their associated clinical studies, e.g., liposomes in drug targeting; liposomes in gene transport across plasma and nuclear membranes; liposomes in enzyme therapy in patients with genetic disorders. However, before these areas can be effectively explored, many basic areas in liposome research require elucidation, including: (a) attachment of liposomes to cell surfaces; (b) permeation of liposomes through the plasma membranes; and (c) stability of liposomes in cell or nuclear matrices. None of these areas have been exhaustively explored and liposome researchers have ample opportunities to contribute to our knowledge. The aim of Liposome Methods and Protocols is to bring together a wide range of detailed laboratory protocols covering different aspects of liposome biology in order to assist researchers in those rapidly advancing medical fields mentioned earlier. With this goal in mind, in each protocol chapter we have detailed the materials to be used, followed by a step-by-step protocol. The Notes section of each protocol is also certain to prove particularly useful, since the authors include troubleshooting tips straight from their benchtops, valuable information that is seldom given in restricted methods sections of standard research journals. For this reason we feel that the book will prove especially useful for all researchers in the liposome field.

In vitro utilization of liposomes holds great potential as a powerful tool for drug targeting, gene transport across plasma and nuclear membranes, and enzyme therapy for patients with genetic disorders. In Liposome Methods and Protocols, a panel of skilled researchers describes in step-by-step detail their best laboratory techniques for elucidating liposome biology and realizing this promise. With these readily reproducible methods, investigators can illuminate such critical questions as the attachment of liposomes to cell surfaces, the permeation of liposomes through the plasma membranes, and the stability of liposomes in cellular and nuclear matrices. Each detailed protocol is presented by an investigator who is intimately familiar with its problems and capabilities, and includes a detailed list of materials to be used, troubleshooting tips straight from the benchtop, and notes on pitfalls to avoid. The emphasis is on clearly presenting the technical steps critical to experimental success that are too often omitted from methods published in the primary literature.
State-of-the-art and highly practical, Liposome Methods and Protocols provides an indispensable collection of proven techniques and references for researchers across many fields, including glycoproteins, glycolipids, glycosyltransferases, drug transport, viral transport, antibody delivery, synthetic peptide delivery to cells, and protease delivery.