ISSN:
1435-1536
Keywords:
Anesthesia theory
;
lipid membrane
;
interface
;
gas adsorption
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
Notes:
Abstract Inhalation anesthetics currently in clinical use, such as halothane, methoxyflurane, enflurane, isoflurane, etc., are polar hydrophobic molecules, except nitrous oxide, which is an apolar and weak anesthetic, incapable of inducing surgical stage anesthesia. Experimental data are accumulating that these potent amphipathic inhalation anesthetics preferentially bind membranes and macromolecules on the surface at clinical concentrations. The anesthetic binding to lipid membranes in the low concentration range is characterized by a saturable curve approaching to a limiting value. When the anesthetic concentration s greatly increased above the clinical range, the binding starts to exceed the limiting saturation value. Our model for anesthetic binding to membranes consists of two parts: Langmuir-type adsorption to the membrane surface at the low concentration range and penetration into the hydrophobic core at the high concentration range. The present communication provides a statistical-thermodynamic basis to analyze this twostep interaction. An expression is derived for membrane capacitance as a function of anesthetic concentration, which explains the experimental data well. Binding parameters of anesthetics are estimated according to the theory.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01500760
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