Size and structural properties of vesicles

Let us now look at some properties of vesicles and liposomes (liposomes can be defined as vesicles made out of lipids, although often the two terms are used synonymously). This will be a preliminary to the next chapter, where the reactivity of vesicles as models for biological cells will be considered in more detail. 

Going back to the physical properties, it should be mentioned that vesicles can be seen as a microphase, which can undergo temperature-induced phase transitions. Thus, liposomes can pass from amore ordered state at low temperature (the so-called 

In particular, the transition temperature also influences the physical parameters, such as permeability and stability (liposomes can only be prepared at temperatures above Tm), and the encapsulation of solutes is rather low below this temperature (Janiak et al, 1976 Machy and Leserman, 1987 Gennis, 1989). 

In general, it may be said that the variety of architecture built by surfactants and lipids in particular is extremely rich, that small variations in chemical structure of the surfactant may bring about significant changes in the supramolecular structure of the 

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