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Related Concept Videos

Membrane Fluidity01:23

Membrane Fluidity

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Cell membranes are composed of phospholipids, proteins, and carbohydrates loosely attached to one another through chemical interactions. Molecules are generally able to move about in the plane of the membrane, giving the membrane its flexible nature called fluidity. Two other features of the membrane contribute to membrane fluidity: the chemical structure of the phospholipids and the presence of cholesterol in the membrane.
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Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer01:35

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Biological membranes show uneven distribution of different types of lipids in the inner and outer layers, resulting in transverse asymmetric membranes. The treatment of the erythrocyte membrane with the enzyme phospholipase confirmed the asymmetric nature of the lipid bilayer. The enzyme hydrolyzes lipids into fatty acids and hydrophilic groups. The phospholipase acts only on the outer layer of the membrane, while the inner layer remains intact. The phospholipase treatment resulted in 80%...
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Overview
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Structure of Lipids03:38

Structure of Lipids

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Lipids include a diverse group of compounds that are largely nonpolar in nature. This is because they are hydrocarbons that include mostly nonpolar carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. Non-polar molecules are hydrophobic (“water fearing”), or insoluble in water. Lipids perform many different functions in a cell. Cells store energy for long-term use in the form of fats. Lipids also provide insulation from the environment for plants and animals. For example, they help keep aquatic...
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Phosphoinositides and PIPs01:42

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Phosphoinositides are a group of phospholipids containing a glycerol backbone with two fatty acid chains and a phosphate attached to a myoinositol sugar ring. The inositol head group extends into the cytoplasm, where it is modified by adding phosphate groups to form phosphatidylinositol phosphates or PIPs.
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Lipids as Anchors01:32

Lipids as Anchors

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In the plasma membrane, the lipids forming the bilayer can also act as an anchor to tether proteins to the membrane. The three main types of lipid anchors found in eukaryotes are – prenyl groups, fatty acyl groups, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol or GPI groups. Prenyl and fatty acyl groups act as anchors on the cytosolic surface of the membrane, whereas GPI anchors proteins on the extracellular side.
The carboxy-terminal of most of the prenylated proteins, such as Ras proteins, contains...
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Self-Assembly of Hybrid Lipid Membranes Doped with Hydrophobic Organic Molecules at the Water/Air Interface
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Tailoring the multi-functional properties of phospholipids for simple to complex self-assemblies.

Tejashree Waghule1, Ranendra Narayan Saha1, Amit Alexander2

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Journal of Controlled Release : Official Journal of the Controlled Release Society
|July 16, 2022
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Phospholipids are versatile pharmaceutical excipients that self-assemble into nanocarriers for drug delivery. Their structural properties guide the design of effective lipid-based drug delivery systems for various administration routes.

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Area of Science:

  • Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • Materials Science
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Phospholipids exhibit unique interfacial properties, biocompatibility, and amphiphilic nature.
  • Their amphiphilicity enables self-assembly into diverse nanostructures for drug delivery.
  • Key properties like solubility, charge, and packing parameters influence formulation design.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the relationship between phospholipid structure and nanocarrier formation.
  • To provide guidelines for selecting phospholipids in drug delivery system design.
  • To highlight recent advancements in phospholipid-based drug delivery.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on phospholipid structure-property relationships.
  • Analysis of phospholipid self-assembly into various nanocarrier systems.
  • Case study compilation of diverse phospholipid-based drug delivery applications.

Main Results:

  • Phospholipid structure dictates the formation of lipid-based nanocarriers (50 nm to microns).
  • These carriers are suitable for multiple administration routes (oral, IV, nasal, dermal, etc.).
  • Additives and advanced formulations (complexes, biomimetic lipids) expand applicability.

Conclusions:

  • Phospholipids are versatile excipients crucial for designing nanocarrier drug delivery systems.
  • Understanding phospholipid structure is key to optimizing drug delivery formulations.
  • Phospholipids function as solubilizers, emulsifiers, surfactants, and more in drug delivery.