Incorporation of D-glucosamine alkyi glucopyranosides into the bilayer of small unilamellar vesicles of egg phosphatidyl choline

Alkyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β- d -glucopyranosides were incorporated into the phospholipid bilayer of small unilamellar vesicles. Depending on the lengths of the alkyl aglycone group (C 8 –C 14 ), the carbohydrate was either found in the form of micelles (C 8 ) or was effectively incorporated in the bilayer (C 14 ). The use of radiolabelled lipids and/or carbohydrates enabled the quantitative determination of the amounts of lipid and carbohydrate recovered into the vesicles. An enzymatic assay has been carried out to evaluate the outer and inner distribution of the carbohydrate moieties on the liposomes.