Title:The Mechanisms and Quantification of the Selective Permeability in Transport Across Biological Barriers: the Example of Kyotorphin
VOLUME: 14 ISSUE: 2
Author(s):Isa D. Serrano, Joao M. Freire, Miguel V. Carvalho, Mafalda Neves, Manuel N. Melo and Miguel A.R.B. Castanho
Affiliation:Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
Keywords:Blood-tissue barriers, Drug, Kinetics, Kyotorphin, Permeability, Transepithelial transport.
Abstract:This paper addresses the mechanisms behind selective endothelial permeability and their regulations. The
singular properties of each of the seven blood-tissues barriers. Then, it further revisits the physical, quantitative meaning
of permeability, and the way it should be measured based on sound physical chemistry reasoning and methodologies.
Despite the relevance of permeability studies one often comes across inaccurate determinations, mostly from
oversimplified data analyses. To worsen matters, the exact meaning of permeability is being lost along with this loss of
accuracy. The importance of proper permeability calculation is illustrated with a family of derivatives of kyotorphin, an
analgesic dipeptide.
