Magnetoliposomes: envisioning new strategies for water decontamination

In this work, the inclusion of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) within phospholipid vesicles has been investigated as novel strategy for improving stability and reactivity of these nanoparticles and extending their potential use in the environmental field. Two phospholipids able to form liposomes characterized by different rigidity and stiffness, were used as potential carriers of MNPs. The magneto-responsive liposomes were investigated for their physicochemical and stability properties. In particular, the stability of the two systems was indirectly investigated evaluating the ability of the hybrid constructs to retain a fluorescent marker in their structure. Alterations in the permeability of the membranes were determined by the rate of the marker release from the liposomes, under both mechanical and thermal stress conditions.