Placental lipid bilayer for cell-free molecular interaction studies

An in vitro, cell-free, human placenta model comprising:

• 1) a membrane supporting a lipid bilayer, the bilayer including a composition of synthetic lipids and/or natural lipids representing a ratio of lipids measured from a lipid extraction from a human placental cell membrane at a first, second, third trimester, or a term pregnancy;
• 2) a donor compartment disposed on one side of the bilayer;
• said compartment holding a test compound in contact with the one side of the bilayer;
• and
• 3) a detector for detecting at least one of the test compound's permeation through the bilayer, the test compound's adsorption on the bilayer, or a conductivity effect on the bilayer due to the contact with the test compound;
• said detecting during and/or after a time that the test compound is in contact with the bilayer;
• wherein the in vitro placenta model is capable of simulating the test compound's permeation through, the test compound's adsorption on, or the test compound's conductivity effects on an in vivo human placenta because the ratio of lipids of the in vitro bilayer is measured from the lipid extraction from the human placental cell membrane.