Changes in surface charge density on liposomes induced by Escherichia coli endotoxin

Changes in surface charge density of liposomes induced by E. coli endotoxin were studied by microelectrophoresis. Endotoxin altered the surface charge of phosphatidylcholine liposomes from neutral to negative. The negative charge of the endotoxin-phosphatidylcholine complex was neutralized electrostatically by binding with Ca²⁺ (2 mM). Phosphatidylcholine liposomes were made positive by addition of the positively charged detergent, hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride. Endotoxin made the positively charged liposomes less charged. On the other hand, phosphatidylserine liposomes which were negatively charged became less charged in the presence of high concentration of endotoxin (8 mg/ml). The endotoxin effect on phosphatidylserine liposomes was abolished by EDTA (1 mM) but potentiated by CaCl₂ (0.1–2 mM). These results indicate that endotoxin interacts with liposomes both hydrophobically and electrostatically.