Development of biomimetic phospholipid membrane chromatography for drug discovery: A comprehensive review

Drug-membrane interactions are important physicochemical properties to be considered at early drug discovery stage, which can provide deeper understanding of drug pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and toxicity. Biomimetic phospholipid membrane chromatography (BPMC) is a chromatographic method in which biomimetic phospholipid membranes (phospholipid monolayer/bilayer and intact liposomes) are used as either stationary phase or pseudo-stationary phase, allowing rapid and effective mimicking and study of drug-membrane interactions. Over the last 30 years, various BPMC columns have been developed and successfully applied to the prediction of related drug properties. This review summarizes different BPMC modes, mainly focusing on their classification and preparation. The various solid supports of BPMC columns are summarized, including monolith, silica, agarose and open tubular column. Immobilization methods for BPMC as well as their advantages and drawbacks are also discussed, including physical adsorption, covalent binding, steric trapping, in-situ co-polymerization, etc. The major challenges and future prospects of BPMC are also briefly discussed.