Lipid bilayer membranes and lipoprotein particles

Lipid bilayer membranes and lipoprotein particles represent critical non-protein therapeutic targets essential for cellular integrity and systemic lipid metabolism. Lipid bilayers form the fundamental structural barrier of all living cells and many organelles, serving as the site of action for various antimicrobial agents that disrupt membrane permeability or ion gradients to induce cell death (e.g., daptomycin and amphotericin B) [PMID: 25131210, PMID: 23533135]. Lipoprotein particles, including LDL and HDL, are complex macromolecular assemblies responsible for transporting hydrophobic lipids like cholesterol and triglycerides through the aqueous environment of the bloodstream. Pharmacological intervention at the level of these particles often involves sequestration (bile acid sequestrants) or the modulation of their clearance and composition to prevent or treat cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis [PMID: 28449604, PMID: 30139445]. Understanding the biophysical properties of these targets is vital for developing drugs that can selectively interact with specific lipid environments, such as bacterial versus mammalian membranes, to minimize host toxicity.

Other names

Cell membranesPlasma membranesLipid bilayersLipoproteinsLow-density lipoproteinsHigh-density lipoproteinsBiological membranes

Drugs targeting these structures typically act through physical disruption of the membrane (pore formation), sequestration of lipid components (such as bile acids or cholesterol), or inhibition of lipid transfer proteins that modulate particle composition.