Biological membranes and aqueous cellular environment

Biological membranes and the aqueous cellular environment represent the fundamental physical compartments of life, serving as the site of action and barrier for nearly all pharmacological agents. The biological membrane is a dynamic phospholipid bilayer that provides structural integrity and selective permeability, while the aqueous environment, including the cytosol and extracellular fluid, facilitates the diffusion of solutes and biochemical reactions (Alberts et al., 2002). While often considered a medium for drug transport rather than a specific receptor, these structures are the primary targets for several therapeutic classes, including membrane-disrupting antibiotics like polymyxins and antifungal agents like amphotericin B (Zasloff, 2002). Additionally, the physical properties of the membrane, such as fluidity and thickness, are thought to be modulated by general anesthetics according to the Meyer-Overton hypothesis (Heimburg & Jackson, 2005). Because these environments are universal across host and pathogen cells, therapeutic strategies targeting them must overcome significant challenges related to off-target toxicity and lack of molecular specificity (Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 2002).

Other names

Cellular membranesLipid bilayerCytosolIntracellular fluidExtracellular environmentPlasma membraneCellular milieu

Membrane disruption, pore formation, alteration of lipid bilayer fluidity, and modulation of the hydrophobic effect to influence protein conformation and ion permeability.