Yudintsev A. Molecular mechanisms of interactions between europium coordination complexes and model membranes.

Object of investigation is model systems composed of europium coordination complexes and model membranes. The aim of research is to evaluate the lipid-associating ability of the drugs in question and to gain insight into the molecular details of the influence of Eu compounds on the structural state and physico-chemical properties of the model membrane. Membrane-partitioning and bilayer-modifying properties of the Eu(III) coordination complexes were evaluated using equilibrium dialysis, absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy techniques. The evidence for incorporation of europium coordination complexes into lipid phase of the model membrane was obtained. The obtained results indicate that compounds in question do not exert any influence on bilayer polarity. In the meantime, their incorporation into the membrane interior is followed by the modification of lipid bilayer structural state, presumably involving alterations in trans-gauche isomerization of the lipid acyl chains. The fact that all the observed effects are relatively small in their magnitude creates a background for the development of liposome-based formulations of Eu(III) coordination complexes, as potential anticancer drugs. Sphere of use is the molecular biophysics, medicine, pharmacology, biophysics of cell and physical chemistry.