Large unilamellar vesicle fractions

In the pseudobinary DMPC/Ci2Eg-system (i.e. in the presence of an excess of water) a phase exists at a surfactant mole fraction Xs = 0.33 above 30 °C which probably consists of large unilamellar vesicles [41,42]. 

The vesicles are oriented between two electrodes of 100 jjm distance applying a field strength of 2-4 kV/cm. The diameter of the two large vesicles is about 40 jjm (fig.21 a). Fusion is initiated by a field pulse of 30-90 kV/cm and 20-50 jjs duration. The intermingling of membrane lipids occurs within a fraction of a second. The membrane boundary between the two vesicles disappears forming an oval as shown in fig, 21 b. A special liposome is formed after turning off the external field. If the vesicles are unilamellar the whole fusion process is completed within one second. In the case of multilamellar vesicles the fusion time is extended to about 3-6 seconds. Fusion times for cells are usually in the range of minutes (35). 

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