The study of drug-membrane interactions has significant implications in the field of medicine, contributing insight into drug design and optimized drug delivery. Many drugs can bind to lipid membranes and potentially modulate the physical properties of that membrane. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most widely used medications for their capability in reducing pain, fever, and inflammation. A deeper understanding into the effect of regularly consumed NSAIDs on water permeability of lipid bilayers extends our knowledge of molecular interactions of these common drugs with biological membranes. In this study, we investigated how NSAIDs interact with lipid bilayers made of either monoacylglyerides or phospholipids, to alter the permeation of water across these membrane bilayers. The method employed in this study involves the formation of a droplet interface bilayer (DIB) as a model for cell membranes. This model is constructed by combining two aqueous droplets of differing osmolarity in an immiscible solvent containing lipids in the presence and absence of varying amount of NSAIDs at different pH. Our results suggest that NSAIDs influenced the water permeability of both monoglycerides and phospholipids bilayer. The extent of change in water permeability depends on the nature and concentration of drugs, pH and the composition of lipid bilayer. Our findings represent the direct interaction of drugs with the cell membrane and its structure.

Model cell membranes are perturbed by anti-inflammatory drugs

256th National Meeting (2018)

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