Cell membranes and extracellular biomolecules

Cell membranes and extracellular biomolecules represent a broad structural and functional category rather than a single, discrete therapeutic target. The cell membrane is a complex phospholipid bilayer that serves as a selective barrier and a platform for signaling proteins, while extracellular biomolecules encompass the proteins, glycosaminoglycans, and other factors within the extracellular matrix (ECM) and interstitial fluid (Alberts B, et al. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 4th edition. New York: Garland Science; 2002). Pharmacological intervention in this category often involves the use of antibiotics like Polymyxin B, which disrupts bacterial membranes, or enzymes like hyaluronidase that modify the ECM to improve drug delivery (StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554480/; PubChem CID 5360371). Because this grouping includes a vast array of unrelated molecules and structures, it is generally considered too broad for specific drug development programs, which instead focus on individual receptors or enzymes within these environments (Lu P, et al. J Cell Biol. 2012;196(4):395-406). Targeting these structures carries risks of off-target toxicity due to the ubiquitous nature of membranes and the essential structural roles of the ECM in healthy tissues (PubMed, PMID: 22351925). Consequently, while these components are vital to physiology and are affected by various drugs, they do not constitute a single "target" in the conventional sense of molecular pharmacology.

Other names

Plasma membraneExtracellular matrixECMCell surfaceInterstitial biomolecules

Drugs targeting these structures typically work by disrupting the physical integrity of the lipid bilayer, altering membrane permeability, or enzymatically degrading components of the extracellular matrix to facilitate tissue penetration or modify signaling environments (StatPearls, 'Polymyxin B'; Lu P, et al. J Cell Biol. 2012).