Liposome-induced morphological differentiation of murine neuroblastoma

LIQUID crystals made of lipids (liposomes), initially devised as models of biological membranes1–4, have more recently been used as artificial carriers because of their ability to bind and fuse with biological membranes and discharge their soluble content into the cytoplasm5–7. Preliminary studies in our laboratory have shown that lisopsomes loaded with the nerve growth factor (NGF) induce morphological differentiation in a murine neuroblastoma cell line which does not exhibit morphological changes on addition of NGF to the culture medium. Control experiments with liposomes in absence of NGF however, also resulted in process formation in neuroblastoma (NB) cells. Our attention was therefore focused on the effect of the carrier itself, rather than on the agent carried.