An ellipsometric study of interaction of anti-cancer agent erufosine on lipid model systems

Abstract

The study of the interaction of native and model lipid membranes with pharmacological agents is a subject of outstanding interest in the research of biomaterials, biosensors, the production of devices using organic layers. In last few years, the study of biomimetic membrane systems in the form of vesicles, lipid monolayers and solid-supported lipid layers has attracted a significant attention among researchers. In this work, we present a capability of the spectroscopic ellipsometry as a novel technique to study solid - supported lipid model systems and decode the effect of the anti-cancer agent erufosine on lipids. Importantly, this technique has been proved as a fast and non-invasive method. The lipid films are composed of phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin and cholesterol in different concentrations and we have employed a thin gold film for supporting their surface. Erufosine (EPC3) is known as membrane-acting anti-tumor agent and in this respect has been investigated its effect on the model systems. The obtained results have revealed reorganization of lipid layers at different extent by interaction with the anti-cancer agent. Show more