Stability of retinol in liposomes as measured by fluorescence lifetime spectroscopy and FLIM.

ABSTRACT: Retinol shows complex photophysical properties that make it potentially useful as an exogenous or endogenous probe of membrane microenvironment, but it has not been fully explored. In this study, we use bulk fluorescence lifetime measurements and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) to examine the stability of retinol in phosphatidylcholine (PC) multilamellar and unilamellar vesicles with and without cholesterol. We find that both light and exposure to ambient temperature and oxygen contribute to retinol degradation, with the addition of an antioxidant such as butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) essential to provide stability, especially in the absence of cholesterol. With exposure to ultraviolet light to excite its native fluorescence, retinol degrades rapidly and can photosensitize

SUBMITTER: Sumrall L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10291040 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature