Effect of anti-inflammatory drugs in phosphatidylcholine membranes: A fluorescence and calorimetric study

• Published in: Chemical physics letters Vol. 471; no. 4; pp. 300 - 309
• Main Authors: Lúcio, M., Nunes, C., Gaspar, D., Gołębska, K., Wisniewski, M., Lima, J.L.F.C., Brezesinski, G., Reis, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 26-03-2009
• ISSN: 0009-2614; 1873-4448
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2009.02.047

This work presents fluorescence and calorimetric studies of the effect of anti-inflammatory drugs on lipid membranes which is essential to understand the drugs therapeutic features.
NSAIDs are the most prescribed drugs for inflammation, and their use is associated with severe gastrointestinal toxicity. This work focuses on the interaction of NSAIDs with membranes, specifically, on their ability to affect the lipid dynamic properties, since this may explain the compromising effects on the integrity of gastric barrier. Studies covered the assessment of drug–membrane/water partition coefficient and location by derivative spectroscopy and fluorescence quenching techniques and effects on membrane biophysics by DSC. Results indicate that the NSAIDs studied have membrane destabilizing effects, which could be transposed to similar effects in the stomach’s phospholipid layer justifying their toxicity.