1: J Control Release. 2007 Jul 16;120(1-2):79-87. Epub 2007 Mar 31. Passive diffusion of polymeric surfactants across lipid bilayers. Mathot F, Schanck A, Van Bambeke F, Ariën A, Noppe M, Brewster M, Préat V. Université Catholique de Louvain, Unité de Pharmacie Galénique, UCL, Brussels, Belgium. Self-assembling polymeric surfactant, mmePEG(750)P(CL-co-TMC) [monomethylether poly(ethylene glycol)(750)-poly(caprolactone-co-trimethylene carbonate)], increases drug solubility and crosses an enterocyte monolayer both in vitro and in vivo. The aims of the present work were to investigate whether mmePEG(750)P(CL-co-TMC) polymers can diffuse passively through lipid bilayer using parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA) and affect membrane properties using liposomes as model. The mmePEG(750)P(CL-co-TMC) polymer was able to cross by passive diffusion an enterocyte-mimicking membrane in PAMPA at concentration which did not perturb membrane integrity. A weak rigidification associated with a low increase in permeability of liposomal lipid bilayers was observed. These data suggest that polymeric surfactants can cross the lipid membrane by passive diffusion and interact with lipid bilayers. PMID: 17524515 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Related Links Transport mechanisms of mmePEG(750)P(CL-co-TMC) polymeric micelles across the intestinal barrier. [J Control Release. 2007] PMID:17928087 Encapsulation of amphotericin B in poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(epsilon-caprolactone-co-trimethylenecarbonate) polymeric micelles. [Int J Pharm. 2006] PMID:16406402 Mixed micelles and other structures in the solubilization of bilayer lipid membranes by surfactants. [Biochim Biophys Acta. 2000] PMID:11090823 Tethered polymer-supported planar lipid bilayers for reconstitution of integral membrane proteins: silane-polyethyleneglycol-lipid as a cushion and covalent linker. [Biophys J. 2000] PMID:10969002 Effects of nonionic surfactants on membrane transporters in Caco-2 cell monolayers. [Eur J Pharm Sci. 2002] PMID:12208453