Drug-lipid interactions in the model membrane, DPPC-water: A DSC and proton NMR study.

The interactions of the keratolytic drug Salicylic Acid (SA) and the antifungal drugs Methyl Paraben (MPB) and Propyl Paraben (PPB) with the model membrane, DPPC-Water, have been studied using DSC and H-1 NMR. The results show that these drug molecules are situated near the membrane interface with their polar group(s) interacting with the vicinal water, while the aromatic regions and the methyl and propyl groups of MPB and PPB interact with the neighbouring hydrophobic regions of the DPPC molecule. The strength of interaction of the aromatic group is in the order PPB > MPB > SA.