Interactions of Borneol with DPPC Phospholipid Membranes: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Qianqian Yin²  Xinyuan Shi³  Haiou Ding¹  Xingxing Dai³  Guang Wan²  Yanjiang Qiao³ 

[1] Civil Aviation General Hospital, No. 1 of Chaowai Takai A, Beijing 100123, China; E-Mail:;School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, No. 10 of Xitoutiao Outside Youanmen, Fengtai District, Beijing 100069, China; E-Mails:;Key Laboratory of TCM-Information Engineer, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 6 of Zhonghuan South Road, Wangjing, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100102, China; E-Mail:

关键词: borneol;    traditional Chinese medicine (TCM);    DPPC (1;    2-dipalmitoylsn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine);    molecular dynamics simulation;    Martini;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms151120365

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Borneol, known as a “guide” drug in traditional Chinese medicine, is widely used as a natural penetration enhancer in modern clinical applications. Despite a large number of experimental studies on borneol’s penetration enhancing effect, the molecular basis of its action on bio-membranes is still unclear. We carried out a series of coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations with the borneol concentration ranging from 3.31% to 54.59% (v/v, lipid-free basis) to study the interactions of borneol with aDPPC(1,2-dipalmitoylsn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine) bilayer membrane, and the temperature effects were also considered. At concentrations below 21.89%, borneol’s presence only caused DPPC bilayer thinning and an increase in fluidity; A rise in temperature could promote the diffusing progress of borneol. When the concentration was 21.89% or above, inverted micelle-like structures were formed within the bilayer interior, which led to increased bilayer thickness, and an optimum temperature was found for the interaction of borneol with the DPPC bilayer membrane. These findings revealed that the choice of optimal concentration and temperature is critical for a given application in which borneol is used as a penetration enhancer. Our results not only clarify some molecular basis for borneol’s penetration enhancing effects, but also provide some guidance for the development and applications of new preparations containing borneol.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.