Phospholipid-based Immobilized Artificial Membrane (IAM) Chromatography: A Powerful Tool to Model Drug Distribution Processes.

A review of applications of the Immobilized Artificial Membrane (IAM) chromatography in drug discovery is given. IAM chromatography is presented as a tool to predict the interactions of solutes with biomembranes, blood-brain barrier permeability, volume of distribution, oral and skin absorption of drugs and compared to other in vitro techniques used to study drug bioavailability (caco-2 cells, liposome partition). Unbound phosphatidylcholine based stationary phases are also discussed. Some new trends and ideas in the IAM chromatography are presented.