Use of X-ray scattering to aid the design and delivery of membrane-active drugs

Eur Biophys J. 2012 Oct;41(10):915-29. doi: 10.1007/s00249-012-0821-9. Epub 2012 Jun 2.

Abstract

Biological membranes can be targets for compounds that either disrupt their barrier function or affect protein function via membrane-mediated processes. Biophysical studies on membrane-mimetic systems composed of membrane lipids have contributed substantially to our knowledge on the pertaining membrane physics and aid the development of membrane-specific drugs. Moreover, lipid membranes and, in particular, liposomes are convenient systems for drug delivery. We review some of our recent work that demonstrates the applicability of X-ray scattering to understanding the molecular mechanisms of drug-membrane interactions. In particular we focus on effects of anesthetics, sphingomyelinase, and antimicrobial peptides. We further discuss X-ray scattering as a quality-control tool for liposomal drug-delivery systems.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Membrane / chemistry
  • Cell Membrane / drug effects*
  • Drug Design
  • Humans
  • Lipid Bilayers / chemistry*
  • Liposomes / chemistry*
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry
  • X-Ray Diffraction*

Substances

  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Liposomes
  • Membrane Proteins