A biomembrane as a contaminant bioindicator

SIERRA, MARÍA BELÉN; SAN ROMÁN NAPOLI, FLORENCIA; ACEBAL, CAROLINA C.

Congreso; L Reunión Anual SAB; 2022

Liposomes formed by phospholipids can be used as model membranes to study the behavior of biological membranes or biomembranes because they show similarities such as their structure, composition, and selective permeability [1]. Therefore, lipidic membranes can also be used to predict the effects of exposure of living organisms to contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) [2-4]. CECs are bioaccumulative compounds of different chemical nature that can be potentially toxic to the environment, and they have gone unnoticed due to lack of information or adequate techniques for their identification. Among them are products such as: drugs, pesticides, cosmetics, cleaning supplies and personal hygiene among others.The liposome becomes a bioindicator that will provide information on the toxicity and interaction of CECs with cell membranes, detecting the action of emerging pollutants on living organisms. In this way, the impact of toxic substances in terms of bioaccumulation and bioavailability in living beings can be anticipated, using a membrane model that mimics the cell membrane, minimizing the use of biological membranes and living beings for experimentation.In this work, the interaction of an emerging contaminant present in water with a liposome was explored: Losartan, an antihypertensive agent, with a mixed model biomembrane composed of phosphatidylcholines: DPPC-POPC and cholesterol through studies of zeta potential, particle size, conductivity, density, speed of sound and transmission electron microscopy. It was observed that the presence of Losartan in the water affects the surface and mechanical properties of the model membrane.The results are expected to provide insight into the toxicity, bioavailability, and bioaccumulation of emerging pollutants in living beings.