Example 7
Liposomes were prepared as: aliquots of lipids (2.6 mM of egg phosphatidylcholine (Avanti Polar Lipids, Inc.) and 0.1 mM of lipidated inhibitor) supplied as chloroform solutions are placed into vials to form thin films by removing chloroform by evaporation under vacuum. Dry films are then hydrated by adding of 0.1 mg Alexa Fluor 555™ (Invitrogen) containing 0.01 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4. Active endocytosis of macrophages was stopped by incubation at 4° C. during 15 minutes. Next, 200 μl of liposomes were placed on the cells and incubated for 15 minutes at 4° C. After incubation cells were washed by PBS and examined with an Olympus fluorescent microscope (Olympus IX 81, Olympus) with Imaging Software for Life Science Microscopy Cell. Non-functionalized liposomes (Lip-Alx) and liposomes functionalized with NS-629 (NS-Lip-Alx) were examined with an Olympus fluorescence microscope (Olympus IX 81, Olympus) with Imaging Software for Life Science Microscopy Cell.