Formation and properties of asymmetric lipid vesicles prepared using cyclodextrin-catalyzed lipid exchange

Lipid bilayers have been important models for biological membranes. The recent development of methods to prepare bilayers with a different lipid composition in each leaflet, that is, asymmetric membranes, has made it possible to prepare model membranes that more closely mimic cellular membranes. Cyclodextrin-catalyzed lipid exchange has proven to be a versatile method for the formation of solvent-free asymmetric small, large, and giant unilamellar vesicles. The principles of asymmetric membrane preparation with cyclodextrins and the properties of the resulting asymmetric vesicles are described. Applications of the method to studies of lipid-protein interaction and to alter the lipid composition and asymmetry of living cells are also briefly discussed.