The influence of charge and lipophilicity of daunorubicin and idarubicin on their penetration of model biological membranes – Langmuir monolayer and electrochemical studies

The interactions of two selected anthracyclines, daunorubicin (DNR) and idarubicin (IDA), with phospholipid nonolayers used as simple models of cell membranes, were investigated. The results of Langmuir experiments together with Brewster angle microscopy showed that both drugs strongly affect cancer cell membranes composed of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-L-serine (DMPS). Electrostatic interactions allow positively charged DNR and IDA to interact with negatively charged DMPS polar heads but increased lipophilicity of IDA allows it to penetrate the layer more effectively than DNR and prevents from its expulsion at higher surface pressures. The analysis of the thermodynamical functions of hysteresis proves the presence of the enthalpically favorable interactions within the monolayer during its compression in the presence of idarubicin, which may form aggregates with DMPS molecules. The influence of the drugs was significantly less pronounced for a healthy cell model composed of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) due to the lack of strong electrostatic attractions. The interactions of drugs with pre-compressed phospholipid monolayers were also examined. The physical state of the monolayer and its packing determined only to some extent the penetration of anthracyclines. Since drug molecules first approach the polar region of the monolayer, the increase in surface pressure in time was more pronounced for negatively charged DMPS monolayers than for zwitterionic DMPC. Additionally, idarubicin was able to penetrate the precompressed DMPS monolayers more effectively than daunorubicin due to increased lipophilicity. This property of the drug was also responsible for IDA better penetration of hydrocarbon chains of supported DMPS monolayers compared to DNR, as shown by electrochemicalstudies.