High density lipoproteins surface structure

Plasma lipoproteins (LPs) are soluble aggregates of lipids and proteins that deliver hydrophobic, water-insoluble lipids (triglycerides and cholesteryl esters) from the liver and intestine to other tissues in the body for storage or utilization as an energy source [60]. All LP particles have a common structure of a neutral lipid core surrounded by a surface monolayer of amphipathic lipids (phospholipids and unesterified cholesterol) and some specific apoproteins (Fig. 14). The LPs are usually classified according to density, from very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) to high-density lipoprotein (HDL). The size of LPs varies from 5-12 nm for HDL to 30-80 nm for VLDL. 

---