Electromechanical Properties of Lipid Bilayers in Peptide-Lipid Interactions: Clinical Applications

Abstract

Despite the amazing diversity and complexity of living systems, all life shares the presence of a semi-permeable lipid membrane. Throughout evolution, this permeability has been finely regulated by the function of proteins that form ion channels. Similarly, some peptides can stabilize by forming aqueous pores in a dose-dependent manner. At high concentrations, however, these peptides can compromise the integrity of the membrane, destroying it. Given this behavior, a huge diversity of antimicrobial peptides and lipo-peptides has been identified. Understanding the physical-chemical principles of their interactions with lipids can contribute to the design of synthetic peptides with antimicrobial activity as an alternative to the use of conventional antibiotics.