Mechanisms of Self-Assembly of Giant Unilamellar Vesicles in the Army Liposome Formulation (ALF) Family of Vaccine Adjuvants.

ABSTRACT: Background/Objectives: Army Liposome Formulation with QS21 (ALFQ) is a vaccine adjuvant formulation consisting of liposomes that contain saturated zwitterionic and anionic phospholipids, 55 mol% cholesterol, and small molar amounts of monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) and QS21 saponin as adjuvants. A unique aspect of ALFQ is that after addition of QS21 to nanoliposomes (<100 nm), the liposomes self-assemble through fusion to form giant (≥1000 nm) unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). The purpose of this study was to introduce and investigate new intermediate structures in the fusion process that we term tethered incomplete microspheres (TIMs), which were discovered by us incidentally as structures that were visible by phase contrast microscopy. Methods: Differential centrifugation; phase

SUBMITTER: Nicolescu C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12473096 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature