Preparation of hydrogel-supported giant vesicles via a lipid-coated hydrogel transfer method with electrostatic interaction

In this study, we developed a preparation method for novel hydroGel-Supported GVs (GSGVs) via a modified oil-in-water (O/W) interface transfer method, using charged cross-linked hydrogel particles of uniform size as a unique template and the internal aqueous phase. The commercial charged hydrogel particles electrostatically adsorbed lipids with the opposite charge on their surface in an oil phase. By centrifugation, the particles were transferred into the lower aqueous phase through the O/W interface adsorbing the lipid molecules and were transformed to GSGVs. In the combination of cationic lipids and anionic hydrogel particles, the adsorbed lipid molecules covering the particles were detected by the fluorescent microscope observation, and the lipid layer had lateral diffusivity shown by the fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) assay. The obtained particles had the size corresponding to the template hydrogel and retained fluorescent dextran larger than 40 kDa in the hydrogel core. These results demonstrated the formation of a new type of GSGVs composed of a pre-defined hydrogel core and lipid membrane. • A lipid-coated hydrogel transfer method was develoeped to prepare HydroGel-Supported Giant Vesicles (GSGVs). • Charged hydrogel particles of uniform size were used as a unique template and internal aqueous phase. • The size of the obtained GSGVs corresponded to the template hydrogel particles. • The obtained GSGVs had the fluidic lipid membranes and retained dextran larger than 40 kDa.