Liposome Suite helps with liposome preparation and parameterization of complex lipid systems. App includes database to store lipids molar masses and formulations, comprising of various lipid solutions.
Concentrations (molarity and mg/ml), components moles, final solution volume etc. are calculated based upon initial data provided, such as: initial concentrations of the stock solutions, initial volumes and desired molar ratios.
The Calculator follows the common liposome preparation procedure, discussed at www.volard.wordpress.com:
· Stock solutions of lipids (or any other compound) are mixed in appropriate molar ratios.
· Obtained mixture is purged with nitrogen and organic solvent is finally evacuated under vacuum.
· Obtained lipid mixture is hydrated and extruded or sonicated, according to the needs.
Calculator features:
Application is fully interactive: calculations initiated by ► button are sensitive to the recently updated data. For example: final molar concentration and lipid molar fractions (%) of the components can be adjusted at any time if molar concentrations of starting solutions and final suspension volume are provided. Upon any of the aforementioned changes, the application will calculate the volumes of the initial solutions to match the desired final parameters.
If molecular weights (Mw, "g/mole") of solutes (lipids) are provided, then concentrations in the units of grams of solute per liter of solution ("g/l" equivalent to "mg/ml") can be used and calculated.
If lipid name exists in database, then application will suggest to autocomplete name and fill in molar mass field, as the name is typed.
Once calculations are accomplished, the final lipid (and not only) formulation can be stored for future needs, by providing formulation name and pressing “v” button. To restore formulation data back to calculator, specific entry should be selected and “^” button should be pressed.
To save lipid molar mass data to the database, the fields for lipid name and molar mass should be filled in, followed by pressing “V” button.
The lipid molar mass entries can be edited by double clicking the specific entry and editing the value in molar mass field and the pressing the “V” button.
The formulation entry and lipid entry can be removed by selecting the specific entry and pressing the corresponding “X” button.
Important points:
The user should follow the simple rule to ensure proper functionality: all known data should be provided in the following order: solution or solute name (optional) -> Mw (if needed) -> initial concentrations (must!) -> volumes (if known) -> molar ratios (if known) -> Total Molarity (if known) -> Total Volume (if known).
Sum of stock solution volumes doesnt have to be equal to final suspension volume (Refer to the procedure)!
Watch the molar ratios to ensure that all starting components are included! Program will skip components for which insufficient data is provided! Thus, for example concentration in g/l cannot be included in calculations if Mw of solute is not provided.
If user updates molar ratios (percents only), program will not start calculations until sum of the ratios will be 100 exactly and obviously, not before than initial concentrations are provided.
Total Concentration in "g/l" and Total Moles fields are for output only.
Please press "Enter" button after any fiel update, to let application know that data is ready. Application is not sensitive to an unconfirmed input for a good reason.
Application assigns dot as a decimal separator.
Liposome Analysis:
The window is divided into data panel (left) and results panel (right).
The data parameters:
Lipid concentration, solution volume, liposome outer diameter,
bilayer Thickness and molecular Area
The results parameters:
Average number of lipid molecules in a single liposome,
Total number of liposomes in the analyzed solution, Inner Volume, Surface Area, Encapsulation
