Synergistic permeability enhancing effect of lysophospholipids and fatty acids on lipid membranes

Jesper Davidsen, Ole G. Mouritsen, Kent Jorgensen*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

    72 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The permeability-enhancing effects of the two surfactants, 1-palmitoyl-2-lyso-sn-gycero-3-phosphocholine (lysoPPC) and palmitic acid (PA), on lipid membranes that at physiological temperatures are in the gel, fluid, and liquid-ordered phases were determined using the concentration-dependent self-quenching properties of the hydrophilic marker, calcein. Adding lysoPPC to lipid membranes in the gel-phase induced a time-dependent calcein release curve that can be described by the sum of two exponentials, whereas PA induces a considerably more complex release curve. However, when lysoPPC and PA were added simultaneously in equimolar concentrations, a dramatic synergistic permeability-enhancing effect was observed. In contrast, when both lysoPPC and PA are added to liposomal membranes that are in the fluid or liquid-ordered phases, no effect on the transmembrane permeation of calcein was observed.

    Original languageEnglish
    JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta - Biomembranes
    Volume1564
    Issue number1
    Pages (from-to)256-262
    Number of pages7
    ISSN0005-2736
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 19 Aug 2002

    Keywords

    • Drug-delivery
    • Enhancer
    • Fatty acid
    • Liposome
    • Lysophospholipid
    • Membrane
    • Permeability
    • Surfactant

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