Self-assembled lipid superstructures: beyond vesicles and liposomes.

A unique set of nanoparticle dispersions of self-assembled lipid mesophases with distinctive reversed cubic, hexagonal, and sponge phase structures has been prepared by use of original lipid combinations and a simple, generally applicable and scalable method. All key properties, particle size distributions, shape, phase structure, and stability, are controlled predictably and reproducibly. The results suggest the cross-disciplinary use of nonlamellar particle structures in science and technology as, for instance, biomimetics, in vivo drug delivery vehicles for diagnostic and therapeutic agents, protein crystallization matrices, and soft nanoporous materials.