Impedance Analysis of Complex Formation Equilibria in Phosphatidylcholine Bilayers Containing Decanoic Acid or Decylamine

Bilayer lipid membranes composed of phosphatidylcholine and decanoic acid or phosphatidylcholine and decylamine were investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Interaction between membrane components causes significant deviations from the additivity rule. Area, capacitance, and stability constant values for the complexes were calculated based on the model assuming 1:1 stoichiometry, and the model was validated by comparison of these values to experimental results. We established that phosphatidylcholine and decylamine form highly stable 1:1 complexes. In the case of decanoic acid-modified phosphatidylcholine membranes, complexes with stoichiometries other than 1:1 should be taken into consideration

Electrophoretic Light Scattering and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy Studies of Lipid Bilayers Modified by Cinnamic Acid and Its Hydroxyl Derivatives

Pharmacological efficiency of active compounds is largely determined by their membrane permeability. Thus, identification of drug-membrane interactions seems to be a crucial element determining drug-like properties of chemical agents. Yet, knowledge of this issue is still lacking. Since chemoprevention based on natural compounds such as cinnamic acid (CinA), p-coumaric acid (p-CoA) and ferulic (FA) is becoming a strong trend in modern oncopharmacology, determination of physicochemical properties of these anticancer compounds is highly important. Here, electrophoretic light scattering and impedance spectroscopy were applied to study the effects of these phenolic acids on electrical properties of bilayers formed from 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC), 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-l-serine (PS) or DOPC-PS mixture. After phenolic acid treatment, the negative charge of membranes increased in alkaline pH solutions, but not in acidic ones. The impedance data showed elevated values of both the electrical capacitance and the electrical resistance. We concluded that at acidic pH all tested compounds were able to solubilize into the membrane and permeate it. At neutral and alkaline pH, the CinA could be partially inserted into the bilayers, whereas p-CoA and FA could be anchored at the bilayer surface. Our results indicate that the electrochemical methods might be crucial for predicting pharmacological activity and bioavailability of phenolic acids

Electrical Properties of Model Lipid Membranes

Biological membranes are essential components of the living systems, and processes occurring with their participation are related mainly to electric phenomena such as signal transduction, existence of membrane potentials, and transport through the membrane [...

Effect of Selected Anionic and Cationic Drugs Affecting the Central Nervous System on Electrical Properties of Phosphatidylcholine Liposomes: Experiment and Theory

Interactions between phospholipid membranes and selected drugs affecting the central nervous system (CNS) were investigated. Small, unilamellar liposomes were used as biomimetic cell membrane models. Microelectrophoretic experiments on two-component liposomes were performed using the electrophoretic light scattering technique (ELS). The effect of both positively (perphenazine, PF) and negatively (barbituric acid, BA) charged drugs on zwitterionic L-α-phosphatidylcholine (PC) membranes were analyzed. Experimental membrane surface charge density (δ) data were determined as a function of pH. Quantitative descriptions of the adsorption equilibria formed due to the binding of solution ions to analyzed two-component membranes are presented. Binding constants of the solution ions with perphenazine and barbituric acid-modified membranes were determined. The results of our research show that both charged drugs change surface charge density values of phosphatidylcholine membranes. It can be concluded that perphenazine and barbituric acid are located near the membrane surface, interacting electrostatically with phosphatidylcholine polar heads

Physicochemical analysis of phosphatidylcholine-ceramide system in bilayer lipid membranes

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used for the study of two-component lipid membranes. Phosphatidylcholine and ceramide were to be investigated, since they play an important biochemical role in cell membranes. The research on biolipid interaction was focused on quantitative description of processes that take part in a bilayer. Assumed models of interaction between amphiphilic molecules and the equilibria that take place there were described by mathematical equations for the studied system. The possibility of complex formation for two-component system forming bilayers was assumed that could explain the deviation from additivity rule. Equilibria were described by mathematical equations that were further verified experimentally. The determined values of parameters (stability constant, molecular area of complex, capacitance and conductance of the lipid membranes formed from molecules and complexes) were used for calculation of model curves. The comparison of model curves and experimental points verified the assumed model