membranepermeable
Membranepermeable, often written membrane-permeable, is an adjective describing a substance's ability to cross cellular membranes, particularly the lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane, without requiring specific transporter proteins. This property is central to how compounds reach intracellular targets and how dyes or drugs can be delivered into cells.
Permeability across membranes is determined by physicochemical properties and the cellular environment. The primary route is
Examples and scope vary. Gases such as O2 and CO2, small uncharged organic molecules, and many hydrophobic
Applications include pharmacology and cell biology, where membrane-permeable drugs, probes, and prodrugs are used to achieve