Electroformation of giant unilamellar vesicles on stainless steel electrodes

Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) are well-established model systems for studying membrane structure and dynamics. Electroformation, also referred to as electro-swelling, is one of the most prevalent methods for producing GUVs, as it enables modulation of the lipid hydration process to form relatively mono-disperse, defect-free vesicles. Currently, however, it is relatively expensive and time-consuming compared to other methods. In this study, we demonstrate that 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DOPC) GUVs can be prepared readily at a fraction of the cost on stainless steel electrodes such as commercially available syringe needles, without any evidence of lipid oxidation or hydrolysis.