When polyphenols meet lipids: Challenges in membrane biophysics and opportunities in epithelial lipidomics

Due to their antioxidant properties, polyphenols are finding novel applications in the fields of Food Technology and Functional Nutrition in the development of innovative functional food products, and in Cosmetics and Regenerative Medicine in the development of formulations for skin disorders. The added-value of polyphenols in these areas is intimately linked to the health benefits they induce which in turn is related to the permeability across the epithelial membrane, a parameter obtained through biomimetic models. This work overviews the knowledge on the interactions of polyphenols with membrane lipids in in vitro models and the underlying challenges in translating biophysical changes achieved with current oversimplified membrane models highlighting the need for improved epithelial membrane models and in turn a better knowledge of the epithelial lipidome. Improved insight into the polyphenol-lipid interactions in vivo (patho) physiological processes will open new opportunities for the exploitation of Food and Agro-Food waste products in Health-related areas.