Comparative Biophysical Analysis of Healthy and Inflamed Intestinal Membrane Models Using Langmuir Monolayers

Intestinal inflammation, including Crohn's disease, represents a chronic condition that increases the risk of colon cancer and involves complications from long-term pharmacotherapy. Since drugs must pass through lipid bilayers to reach their targets, understanding the surface properties of biological membranes is crucial. In this study, the Langmuir technique and Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) were employed to characterize simplified models of healthy and inflamed intestinal cell membranes. Both the outer and inner leaflets of the lipid bilayer were modeled to investigate how inflammation-induced changes in lipid composition, fatty acid saturation, and pH affect membrane integrity. The results demonstrate that inflamed models exhibit increased fluidity, reduced molecular packing, and lower collapse pressures compared to healthy ones. Notably, the study reveals a significant reduction in the differentiation between the surface properties of the outer and inner monolayers in the inflamed state, indicating a loss of membrane asymmetry. These findings provide novel physicochemical insights into inflammation-driven membrane remodeling, potentially supporting the design of targeted therapies with improved absorption in pathological states.