ABSTRACT
In this chapter, studies are described showing that cationic liposomes (CLs) complex with and organize DNA in distinct dimensions. The spontaneous curvature of the confining membrane, related to the shape of lipids comprising the membrane, mediates formation of inverse hexagonal ( H II C ) https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429194078/f6648c05-54f1-4ef3-aa21-f4b9bfd91090/content/C011_equ_0001.tif"/> , lamellar ( L α C ) https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429194078/f6648c05-54f1-4ef3-aa21-f4b9bfd91090/content/C011_equ_0002.tif"/> , and hexagonal ( H I C ) https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429194078/f6648c05-54f1-4ef3-aa21-f4b9bfd91090/content/C011_equ_0003.tif"/> CL–DNA liquid crystal (LC) complexes with DNA residing in one (1D), two (2D), or three (3D) dimensions, respectively. Cationic liposomes are of exceptional interest in the biomedical field because they are carriers of nucleic acids in gene delivery and gene silencing as evidenced by ongoing clinical trials and an approved therapeutic. This chapter describes transfection efficiency studies, measuring expression of DNA transferred by CLs into cells, which show that the interactions of CL–DNA complexes with cells are dependent on their underlying LC structures. Developing optimal CL–nucleic acid complexes for therapeutics requires understanding the interactions of structured complexes with cell membranes and events leading to nucleic acid release within the cytosol.
