Surface properties and interactions of vesicles

It is possible to manipulate the surface characteristics of lipid vesicles, a unique class of colloidal particle, either through the lipid composition of the bilayer or by the introduction of surface macromolecules. Their value as potential drug-carrier systems has led to surface manipulations to facilitate vesicle targeting and to prevent non-specific adsorption by the introduction of hydrophilic polymers (steric stabilization of vesicles). The modification of vesicle surfaces in relation to their powers of adsorption, aggregation and/or fusion has stimulated much interest in the surface properties and interactions of vesicles and presents a major challenge in surface and colloidal science.