Generation of cell-sized liposomes using laser-induced microjets

Abstract

Cell-sized liposomes are microcapsules composed of a lipid bilayer, with potential applications in membrane science and synthetic biology. In this study, we present a novel method that employs high-speed laser-induced microjets to penetrate a lipid-carrying oil phase, thereby generating cell-sized liposomes. By simply triggering the microjets, we can reliably and repeatedly generate cell-sized liposomes, thereby enabling on-demand liposome production. We employed a high-speed camera to capture and analyze the penetration behavior of microjets. Additionally, we confirmed the unilamellarity of the liposomes using melittin, confirming their suitability for various biochemical applications. Furthermore, we conducted a numerical analysis to investigate potential factors influencing liposome formation in detail. These findings hold promise for advancing on-demand liposome production and contributing to the development of biochemical research.