Figure 2. Generation of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) from lipid mixtures.

(A, B) Preparation of the lipid mixture. The desired volume and type of lipid is mixed in chloroform:methanol (1:1; v:v) in a glass tube and (I) the solvent is evaporated in rotary evaporator under the reduced pressure of 250 mbar for 2–4 h; (II) the resulting thin lipid film on the glass tube is dissolved in chloroform:methanol (1:1; v:v) and (III) stored in a glass vial with screw caps sealed with parafilm. (B) The glass tube containing the lipids in chloroform is connected to the rotary evaporator. (C) Equipment for a GUV formation of the home-made chamber. (D) Schematic workflow of GUV formation by the swelling method. The lipid mixture is applied to the cleaned glass slides and (I) dehydrated in a desiccator at 250 mbar for 30–60 min. The dried lipid film is then (II) rehydrated in a swelling buffer for 2–4 h, resulting in the formation of giant vesicles.