Decoration of bacterial outer membrane vesicles with liposomes.

In this study, liposomes were used to decorate bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), and decorated OMVs were evaluated in vitro. The OMVs of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were extracted by pressure-induced ammonium sulfate precipitation, and their particle size, distribution, zeta potential, protein content and stability were determined. Several types of liposomes were prepared by thin film dispersion method, and the OMVs were decorated by vortexing, sonication and extrusion, respectively. The interaction between liposome and OMV was studied with fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) method. The results showed that the OMVs were spherical in shape and negatively charged. The vortexing method exerted little effect on the particle size and distribution of the decorated OMVs. The sonication process reduced the particle size and distribution of OMVs. FRET experiment indicated that the OMVs were decorated through membrane fusion. The above-mentioned results indicated that liposomes could successfully decorate OMVs, and decorated OMVs certainly widened their applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]