How Can Artificial Lipid Models Mimic the Complexity of Molecule–Membrane Interactions?

Abstract Lipid models such as monolayers, vesicles, and planar bilayers have been developed to better understand the physicochemical and biophysical properties of biological membranes. Today, they are used extensively to study protein–lipid and lipid–lipid interactions. They also allow to analyze the interaction of exogenous molecules or nanoparticles with membranes, to elucidate their mechanisms of intracellular penetration, or identify and quantify their specific effects at the level of the lipid matrix. Achieving these goals often requires specific methodologies, sophisticated techniques, and appropriate lipid models. This chapter provides an overview of recent work done in the field and questions the relevance of certain approaches, particularly as regards the composition of the models.