Degradation of liposome cluster caused by the interaction with endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs)

The interaction between endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and liposome clusters was investigated using UV–vis spectroscopy and observed by microscope. Since liposome clusters are composed of small unilamellar liposomes and membrane proteins, they are regarded as a model of plasma membranes. The size of each cluster was 10 μm in diameter. UV–vis spectroscopy of liposome clusters showed an apparent absorption at 300 nm which was affected by the interaction with EDCs. Four EDCs caused an alteration in absorption in a concentration-dependence manner between 0.1 and 10 ppm (i.e. 0.1–10 mg/l). Microscopic observation showed that the effect was caused by the degradation of liposome clusters while degradation was induced by the interaction; liposome was broken down by EDCs. This report suggests that the liposome cluster can be applied for universal detection of EDCs based on the interaction between a plasma membrane model and EDCs.