Iso-pH Equations with Membrane Retention

The popular permeability equations [(7.10) and (7.11)] derived in the preceding section presume that the solute does not distribute into the membrane to any appreciable extent. This assumption may not be valid in drug discovery research, since most of the compounds synthesized by combinatorial methods are very lipophilic and can substantially accumulate in the membrane. Neglecting this leads to underestimates of permeability coefficients. This section expands the equations to include membrane retention. 

1 Without Precipitate in Donor Wells and without Sink 

When membrane retention of the solute needs to be considered, one can derive the appropriate permeability equations along the lines described in the preceding section Eqs. (7.1)—(7.3) apply (with P designated as the effective permeability, Pe). However, the mass balance would need to include the membrane compartment, in addition to the donor and acceptor compartments. At time t, the sample distributes (mol amounts) between three compartments  

The partition coefficient is needed to determine the moles lost to the membrane, VM CM(t). If ionizable compounds are considered, then one must decide on the types of partition coefficient to use -Kp (true pH-independent partition coefficient) or Kd (pH-dependent apparent partition coefficient). If the permeability assay is based on the measurement of the total concentrations, Cn(t) and CA(t), summed over all charge-state forms of the molecule, and only the uncharged molecules transport across the membrane to an appreciable extent, it is necessary to consider the apparent partition (distribution) coefficient, Kd, in order to explain the pH dependence of permeability. 

The apparent membrane-buffer partition (distribution) coefficient Kd, defined at 

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