Polar surface area

The polar surface area (PSA) or topological polar surface area (TPSA) of a molecule is defined as the surface sum over all polar atoms or molecules, primarily oxygen and nitrogen, also including their attached hydrogen atoms.

Electrical potential surface of paracetamol showing polar areas in red and blue

PSA is a commonly used medicinal chemistry metric for the optimization of a drug's ability to permeate cells. Molecules with a polar surface area of greater than 140 angstroms squared (Å2) tend to be poor at permeating cell membranes.[1] For molecules to penetrate the blood–brain barrier (and thus act on receptors in the central nervous system), a PSA less than 90 Å2 is usually needed.[2]

See also

References

  1. Pajouhesh H, Lenz GR (Oct 2005). "Medicinal Chemical Properties of Successful Central Nervous System Drugs". NeuroRx. 2 (4): 541–553. doi:10.1602/neurorx.2.4.541. PMC 1201314. PMID 16489364.
  2. Hitchcock SA, Pennington LD (May 2006). "Structure - Brain Exposure Relationships". J. Med. Chem. 49 (26): 7559–7583. doi:10.1021/jm060642i. PMID 17181137.

Literature


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