Cells store energy in lipid droplets, known as oleosomes, which have a neutral lipid core surrounded by a dilatable membrane of phospholipids and proteins. Oleosomes can be loaded with therapeutic lipophilic cargos through their permeable membrane and used as carriers. However, the cargo can also adsorb between the phospholipids and affect the membrane properties. In the present work, we investigated the effect of adsorbed curcumin on the mechanical properties of oleosome membranes using dilatational interfacial rheology (LAOD). The oleosome membrane had a weak-stretchable behavior, while the adsorption of curcumin led to stronger in-plane interactions, which were dependent on curcumin concentration and indicated a glassy-like structure. Our findings showed that adsorbed curcumin molecules can enhance the molecular interactions on the oleosome membrane. This behavior suggests that oleosomes membranes can be modulated by loaded cargo. Understanding cargo and membrane interactions can help to design oleosome-based formulations with tailored mechanical properties for applications.
Keywords: Curcumin; Interfacial rheology; Lipid droplets; Natural carrier; Oil bodies.
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