Phospholipid bilayer of cell membrane

The **phospholipid bilayer of cell membranes** is a fundamental structural feature of all living cells, consisting of two layers of phospholipids with hydrophilic (water-attracting) heads facing the aqueous environments inside and outside the cell, and hydrophobic (water-repellent) tails facing inward, shielded from water[1][2][3][5][6][7][9]. This configuration forms a dynamic and selectively permeable barrier that separates the cell’s interior from its external environment, maintains cellular homeostasis, controls the passage of ions and molecules, and supports membrane-associated proteins in functions such as transport, signaling, and cell recognition[1][3][5][7]. The bilayer itself can be modified by proteins, cholesterol, and other lipids, and enables membrane fluidity and repair[5][6][8]. Although disruption of this structure is important for understanding toxicity or the action of some antimicrobials, the phospholipid bilayer is not generally considered a classical "drug target" (such as a receptor, enzyme, or transporter), but rather a core structural feature critical to cell survival[4][6][7].

Other names

Lipid bilayerCell membrane bilayerPlasma membrane bilayerBiological membrane

Not applicable (the bilayer is a structural feature, not a pharmacological target; however, some agents disrupt or integrate into the bilayer, e.g. detergents or some antibiotics like polymyxins)