Abreu et al. Nanoscale Research Letters 2011, 6:482 http://www.nanoscalereslett.com/content/6/1/482 L. Vale-Silva (SFRH/BPD/29112/2006) acknowledge FCT for their postdoctoral grants. Author details 1Centre of Physics (CFUM), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710- 057 Braga, Portugal 2Centre of Chemistry (CQ/UM), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal 3Laboratory of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Centre of Medicinal Chemistry (CEQUIMED), University of Porto, Rua Aníbal Cunha 164, 4050-047 Porto, Portugal Authors’ contributions ASA and EMSC conceived the study, were responsible for the interpretation of results, and drafted the manuscript. ASA carried out the liposome preparation, the DLS and zeta potential measurements and dialysis experiments in liposomes. M-JRPQ and PMF supervised the organic synthesis and compound characterization and participated in the draft of the manuscript. 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