Stable Discoidal Bicelles: Formulation, Characterization, and Functions

Bicellar mixtures have been used as alignable membrane substrates under a magnetic field applicable for the structural characterization of membrane -associated proteins. Recently, it has shown that bicelles can serve as nanocarriers to effectively deliver hydrophobic therapeutic molecules to cancer cells with a three- to ten -fold enhancement compared to that of liposomes of a chemically identical composition. In this chapter, detailed preparation protocol, common structural characterization methods, the structural stability, the cellular uptake and a few unique functions of bicellar nanodiscs are discussed.