Permeability and transporters

Unraveling drug absorption and distribution

In our laboratories, we use Caco-2 and MDCK assays to assess the permeability of drug candidates across intestinal and epithelial barriers.  

Caco-2 cells, derived from human colorectal adenocarcinoma, mimic the intestinal epithelium and are crucial for predicting oral drug absorption, passive diffusion and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) efflux activity. These assays help identify compounds with favourable permeability profiles, essential for optimising oral bioavailability.  

MDCK cells, modified with P-gp or BCRP overexpression, are used to study blood-brain barrier permeability and renal transport. These assays provide valuable insights into drug distribution and interactions with transporter proteins in the brain and kidneys, helping identify potential drug–drug interactions.  

We offer high-throughput, automated assays, including bidirectional Caco-2 assays to evaluate both active and passive membrane permeation. These tests assess permeability in both directions – apical to basal and basal to apical – and indicate efflux involvement, such as P-gp or BCRP interactions. Our assays can be adapted to investigate transporter interactions, crucial for understanding drug elimination via renal, biliary or intestinal secretion.  

Our team of experienced scientists supports each project from assay design to result interpretation, ensuring a tailored approach to meet your specific drug discovery needs. By enabling reliable data on drug permeability, transport interactions and potential drug–drug interactions, we help optimise drug development, improve safety and enhance the efficiency of drug delivery. We are committed to delivering fast, accurate results to support the advancement of your drug candidates.