Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 18, 2026

Lipid Bilayer Experiments with Contact Bubble Bilayers for Patch-Clampers
Published on: January 16, 2019
Effect of benzocaine and propranolol on phospholipid-based bilayers
G Mangiapia1, M Gvaramia2, L Kuhrts1
1Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich Centre for Neutron Science Außenstelle am Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum, Lichtenbergstraße 1, D-85747 Garching, Germany. mangiapia.gaetano@alice.it.
Abstract:
Cell membranes play a fundamental role in protecting the cell from its surroundings, in addition to hosting many proteins with fundamental biological tasks. A study of drug/lipid interactions is a necessary and important step in fully clarifying the role and action mechanism of active ingredients, and shedding light on possible complications caused by drug overdosage. In this paper, the influence of benzocaine and propranolol drugs on the structure of l-α-phosphatidylcholine-based membranes has been investigated by means of neutron reflectivity, grazing incidence small angle neutron scattering, and small/ultra-small angle neutron scattering. Investigations allowed discovering a stiffening of the membranes and the formation of stalks, caused by the presence of benzocaine. On the other hand, disordered bilayers (lamellar powders) and highly curved structures were found in the presence of propranolol. The results obtained may be rationalized in terms of the molecular structures of drugs and may serve as a starting point for explaining the toxic behavior in long-term and overdosage scenarios.
More Related Videos
09:54Multifunctional, Micropipette-based Method for Incorporation And Stimulation of Bacterial Mechanosensitive Ion Channels in Droplet Interface Bilayers
Published on: November 19, 2015
12:18Assembly of Cell Mimicking Supported and Suspended Lipid Bilayer Models for the Study of Molecular Interactions
Published on: August 3, 2021
Related Concept Videos
Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer
Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER
A large chunk of any biological membrane is composed of phospholipids. These lipids have a heterogeneous distribution across different subcellular organelles and even between...
Pharmacodynamic Models: Logarithmic Concentration–Effect Model
Factors Affecting Dissolution: Drug pKa, Lipophilicity and GI pH
A drug's pKa and the pH of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract play crucial roles...
What are Lipids?
Non-Polar and Hydrophobic Characteristics of Lipids
Lipids are a structurally and functionally diverse group of hydrocarbons—compounds consisting of carbon and hydrogen atoms. The carbon-carbon and...
Adrenergic Antagonists: Pharmacological Actions of β-Receptor Blockers