MDCK permeation assays

The evaluation of the apparent ionization constants (i) can indicate in partition experiments the extent to which a charged form of the drug partitions into the octanol or liposome bilayer domains, (ii) can indicate in solubility measurements, the presence of aggregates in saturated solutions and whether the aggregates are ionized or neutral and the extent to which salts of dmgs form, and (iii) can indicate in permeability measurements, whether the aqueous boundary layer adjacent to the membrane barrier, Umits the transport of drugs across artificial phospholipid membranes [parallel artificial membrane permeation assay (PAMPA)] or across monolayers of cultured cells [Caco-2, Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK), etc.]. 

There are several approaches to estimating absorption using in vitro methods, notably Caco-2 and MDCK cell-based methods or using methods that assess passive permeability, for example the parallel artificial membrane permeation assay (PAMPA) method. These are reviewed elsewhere in this book. The assays are very useful, and usually have an important role in the screening cascades for drug discovery projects. However, as discussed below, the cell-based assays are not without their drawbacks, and it is often appropriate to use ex vivo and/or in vivo absorption assays. 

The use of a faster-growing cell line, MDCK (Madin-Darby canine kidney) cells, appears to be a good replacement for Caco-2 cells (Irvine et al. 1999). The parallel artificial membrane permeation assay (PAMPA) is a rapid in vitro assay, in which transcellular permeation is evaluated (Kansy et al. 1998). PAMPA may also be used to predict oral absorption, blood-brain barrier penetration, and human skin permeability (Fujikawa et al. 2007) by using QSAR models. To our knowledge, neither PAMPA, Caco-2 cell monolayers nor MDCK cells have been used to examine the absorption/permeability of the pyrethroids. The advantages and limitations of the Caco-2 model were reviewed by Artursson et al. (1996) and Delie and Rubas (1997). 

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