Pore formation in and enlargement of phospholipid liposomes by synthetic models of ceramides and sphingomyelin
摘要:
A family of compounds having twin octadecyl anchor chains and various polar headgroups were designed to be ceramide mimics. The compounds prepared increase the apparent permeability of phospholipid vesicles to chloride and carboxyfluorescein anions. In addition, significantly larger vesicles are observed after exposure to these compounds suggesting the possibility of vesicular fusion. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Compounds of the formula ##STR1## or a non-toxic acid addition salt thereof wherein R.sub.1 is alkyl of from 1 to 20 carbon atoms; R.sub.2 is alkyl of from 12 to 20 carbon atoms; R.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and hydroxyalkyl of from 2 to 8 carbon atoms; and R.sub.4 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl of from 1 to 8 carbon atoms and hydroxyalkyl of from 2 to 8 carbon atoms, said compounds are useful for combating viral infections in vertebrate animals.