Binding of uranyl to phosphatidylcholine liposomes. Liposome aggregation effect on surface area.

The binding of uranyl ion, UO2+2, to egg phosphatidylcholine liposomes was studied as a potential method for the determination of liposome surface areas. Unbound uranyl was determined spectrophotometrically as the Arsenazo III complex with centrifuge supernatant. There is an apparent positive cooperativity in uranyl binding at phosphatidylcholine concentrations above approx. 0.1 mM. The binding capacity per mol increases upon liposome dilution. The data are consistent with liposomes existing in a highly aggregated state. The binding constant in the limit of low concentration of bound uranyl was 9+/-3)-10(6) M-1 in 0.1 M NaCl, pH 4.1. At saturation about four uranyl ions are bound per 100 phosphatidylcholine molecules. Relative surface areas of different dispersions may be calculated from intercepts of extrapolated binding isotherms, and absolute surface areas may be calculated if a value for the uranyl-phosphatidylcholine stoichiometry is assumed.