Carrier-mediated transport phenomena in enzyme-loaded liposomes

A mathematical model which describes the kinetic behaviour of enzyme- loaded liposomes containing a substrate transporter in the lipid bilayer is presented. The model accounts for the facilitated diffusion across the membrane and the chemical reaction in the aqueous core. Both steady-state and transient kinetics are analysed. The model allows to quantify the influence of transport phenomena on the catalytic properties of the microencapsulated enzyme and provides some directions for the design of an artificial vesicle in which a selective substrate carrier has been included.