Introduction - Membrane Biophysics, Biological and Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering - page 8

constituents, and any agent responsible for creating an event inside the membrane will
be explained in detail. Particular attention will be paid to the mechanisms that depend
on the electrical properties of membranes relative to their mechanical properties. This
chapter will summarize all aspects of the regulation of membrane protein functions
based on the electrical and mechanical properties of membranes and membrane
proteins.
Chapter 6 has been dedicated to explaining how membrane-based nanotechnol-
ogy can be used in drug delivery into cellular interiors. Electrical and mechanical
properties of membranes determine the interactions between nanoparticles and mem-
branes and lead to possible delivery methods beyond the membrane subject to the
presence of other agents that induce membrane transport events. Novel membrane-
based nanotechnology is proposed in this chapter, which will hopefully open up a
new dimension in developing drug delivery strategies.
A number of serious diseases involving cell membrane structures and functions
have been discussed in Chap. 7 . In addition to a brief description of the development
of these diseases, drug discovery and treatment regimens are taken into considera-
tion. The reader will find information about the physical, chemical, and biological
processes that are involved in disease initiation and progression. Finally, certain
diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, bacterial infections, and some other
membrane-based disorders and their potential treatments will be outlined in this
chapter.
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