Sensitive liposomes encoded with oligonucleotide amphiphiles: a biocompatible switch

DNA-tagged liposomes made of DOPC specifically bind to a fluorescently labelled complementary ss-DNA with virtually no influence from the lipid bilayer despite the absence of a linker; depending on an external stimulus, either physical (temperature) or chemical (competitive complementary ON sequences), the liposomes switch between an on and off fluorescent state depending on the location of the probe either at the surface or in the bulk.