title: Advances in immobilized artificial membrane (IAM) chromatography for novel drug discovery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The development of immobilized artificial membrane (IAM) chromatography has unfolded new perspectives for the use of chromatographic techniques in drug discovery, combining simulation of the environment of cell membranes with rapid measurements.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present review describes the characteristics of phosphatidylcholine-based stationary phases and analyses the molecular factors governing IAM retention in comparison to n-octanol-water and liposomes partitioning systems as well as to reversed phase chromatography. Other biomimetic stationary phases are also briefly discussed. The potential of IAM chromatography to model permeability through the main physiological barriers and drug membrane interactions is outlined. Further applications to calculate complex pharmacokinetic properties, related to tissue binding, and to screen drug candidates for phospholipidosis, as well as to estimate cell accumulation/retention are surveyed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ambivalent nature of IAM chromatography, as a border case between passive diffusion and binding, defines its multiple potential applications. However, despite its successful performance in many permeability and drug-membrane interactions studies, IAM chromatography is still used as a supportive and not a stand-alone technique. Further studies looking at IAM chromatography in different biological processes are still required if this technique is to have a more focused and consistent application in drug discovery.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy , University of Athens , Zografou , Athens , Greece.|b Laboratory of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, School of Chemical Engineering , National Technical University of Athens , Athens , Greece.
authors.forename: Fotios
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tsopelas
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy , University of Athens , Zografou , Athens , Greece.
authors.forename: Theodosia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vallianatou
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy , University of Athens , Zografou , Athens , Greece.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsantili-Kakoulidou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002845:Chromatography / Q000379:methods; D055808:Drug Discovery; D006801:Humans; D008081:Liposomes; D008567:Membranes, Artificial
chemical_list: D008081:Liposomes; D008567:Membranes, Artificial
keywords: IAM chromatography; biomimetic chromatography; drug-membrane interactions; membrane permeability; phospholipophilicity