We report a small angle X-ray scattering study of the DNA/neutral lipid/water system showing that it is possible to confine DNA into a neutral multilamellar phase at high lipid-to-DNA weight ratio, despite the lack of electrostatic interactions in this system. This phase is characterized by a 2D ordering of the DNA molecules intercalated between the neutral bilayers of a 3D smectic phase as shown from the presence of a DNA–DNA correlation peak and the 1D electron density profile of the multilamellar phase. We further demonstrate that it is possible to disperse this phase as small multilamellar vesicles encapsulating high amounts of DNA.
