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Polar surface area

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

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.

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.