Electrochemical Studies on Drug-Membrane Interaction

The surfaces of bilayer lipid membranes are charged due to the presence of phosphate groups and nitrogen bases, which will attract the oppositely charged ions and form electrified interfaces at the internal and external surfaces of the cells leading to development of a potential across the cell membrane. A cell is said to be alive and perform biological functions only when there exists a potential difference across the cell membrane.The chemical nature of the cell membrane components and the events that occur at the interface or within the bilayer decide the permeability and structural properties of the biomembranes. The bilayer arrangement of phospholipid molecules in the cell membranes acts as a matrix, which incorporates different proteins and glycans to perform variety of functions. The model-membrane systems have garnered much attention because they provide a useful and interesting interface between the biological world and man-made materials and thus, have great potential for basic membrane and cell-biology research as well as a variety of biotechnological and biomedical applications.