Immobilized artificial membranes - Screens for drug membrane interactions

Immobilized Artificial Membranes (IAMs) are monolayers of phospholipid analogs covalently bonded to the surface of silica particles. P-31 NMR and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations demonstrated that IAMs and liposome membranes exhibit similar interfacial properties. These similar interfacial properties have resulted in IAMs' being useful as a physico-chemical model of drug-membrane partitioning. IAM chromatography has been successful used to predict: (1) solute partitioning into liposome membranes; (2) drug permeability through Caco-2 cells; (3) drug intestinal absorption; (4) brain uptake of amino acids; (5) bile salt-membrane interactions; and (6) human skin permeability of steroids and alcohols. In addition, IAM chromatography has also been used to obtain hydrophobicity parameters for SAR studies.