Metronidazole within phosphatidylcholine lipid membranes: New insights to improve the design of imidazole derivatives

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2018

Authors

Lopes de Campos, D (Author) Other; Nunes, C (Author) Other; Sarmento, B (Author) Other; Jakobtorweihen, S (Author) Other; Salette Reis (Author) FFUP

Journal

Title: European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics

Vol. 129

Pages: 204-214

ISSN: 0939-6411

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 1 Citation

Scopus - 6 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00P-04E

DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2018.05.036

Abstract (EN): Metronidazole is a imidazole derivative with antibacterial and antiprotozoal activity. Despite its therapeutic efficacy, several studies have been developing new imidazole derivatives with lower toxicity. Considering that drug-membrane interactions are key factors for drugs pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, the aim of this work is to provide new insights into the structure-toxicity relationship of metronidazole within phosphatidylcholine membranes. For that purpose, lipid membrane models (liposomes and monolayers) composed of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine were used. Experimental techniques (determination of partition coefficients and Langmuir isotherm measurements) were combined with molecular dynamics simulations. Different pHs and lipid phases were evaluated to enable a better extrapolation for in vivo conditions. The partition of metronidazole depends on the pH and on the biphasic system (octanol/water or DPPC/water system). At pH 1.2, metronidazole is hydrophilic. At pH 7.4, metronidazole disturbs the order and the packing of phospholipids. For this toxic effect, the hydroxyl group of the side chain of metronidazole is crucial by interacting with the water embedded in the membrane and with the phosphate group and the apolar chains of phospholipids.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11