Supported bilayer on a nanopatterned membrane as model PAMPA membranes

Parallel-artificial membrane permeation assay (PAMPA) is widely used to rapidly measure drug permeability across a biological membrane. We have prepared model PAMPAs by supporting a lipid bilayer on a hydrated polymeric cushion adsorbed at the surface of a nanoporous alumina filter. In contrast to conventional PAMPAs, the natural fluidity of the bilayer is expected to be conserved in these model PAMPAs. The assembly was characterized by contact angle measurement and atomic force microscopy (AFM) and the supported membranes were mounted in a Franz cell setup to assess the permeability of acetaminophen and famotidine. The permeability profiles for the model PAMPA were compared to those of conventional PAMPA.