Characterization of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine liposome aggregates induced by dextran sulfate and La(3+) by fluorescence spectroscopy.

The addition of dextran sulfate (DS) to DMPC vesicles in the presence of di- and trivalent cations leads to a strong aggregation, resulting in a stack-like arrangement of the opposing membrane surfaces as shown by freeze-fracture electron microscopy. The strong aggregation is connected with a lipid mixing process, especially in the presence of La(3+) (measured by the NBD/Rh assay). The extent of lipid mixing depends on the molecular weight of DS and size of the DMPC vesicles. Additionally, a decrease in the surface dielectric constant of DMPC vesicles [measured by the emission shift of the fluorescent probe, dansylphosphatidyl-ethanolamine (DPE)] was observed. A direct dependence on the molecular weight (MW) of DS exists: the higher their MW, the higher the blue emission shift of the DPE probe. The results are discussed in terms of the theory proposed by Ohki and Arnold, which connects the decrease of the surface dielectric constant with the interaction parameters of phospholipid membranes.