Biodegradable gemini surfactants. Correlation of area per surfactant molecule with surfactant structure

Surface-active properties of nitrogen heterocyclic and dialkylamino derivates of hexadecylphosphocholine and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide

“…Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) is a typical representative of a monoQUAT. Its critical micellar concentration (cmc) value (8.5 Â 10 À4 mol dm À3 [23]) is higher than cmc values of other types of typical anionic (sodium hexadecylsulfate, 5.8 Â 10 À4 mol dm À3 at 40°C [24]), zwitterionic (2-(N-hexadecyl-N,N-dimethylammonium)-ethanoate, 2 Â 10 À5 mol dm À3 [25]), or nonionic (3,6,9,12,15,18-hexaoxatetratriacontanol, 1.7 Â 10 À6 mol dm À3 [26]) surfactants with the same alkyl chain lengths. CTAB forms very small micelles (5.4 nm in diameter) in water solution [27].…”

“…Hydrophilic groups are connected with spacers. The most studied gemini QUATs have two hydrophobic chains, two cationic groups connected with rigid or flexible spacers [4][5][6][7]. In contrast, zwitterionic surfactants contain both positively and negatively charged hydrophilic head groups in molecules.…”

Synthesis, Physicochemical Characterization, and Interaction with DNA of Long‐Alkyl‐Chain Gemini Pyridinium Surfactants

“…This structural feature, which determines the peculiar behavior of surfactants 2b and 3b for A min and the degree of counterion binding b,a lso seems to be highly relevant for their activity in transfection experiments as suggested in our recent paper where the DNA shift and the interaction with membranes of presents eries of surfactants are described. [64] In view of these results, it appears interesting to explore similar structures that bear ah ydrolyzable bond such as amide or ester, [86] to improve the biodegradability and possibly the viability to the cells, since usually quaternary compounds show bactericidal activity and limited biodegradability that, however, do not hamper their use as gene carriers.…”

Physico-biochemical studies on cationic gemini surfactants: Role of spacer

“…They can be easily (enzymatically) be hydrolyzed to non-toxic molecules and can safely removed from the living organisms [38]. Though, traditional quaternary gemini surfactants have been extensively studied [1,2,4,39] and also utilized for some biomedical applications [3,6,9,13,40], no report has been found related to DNA binding and cytotoxicity of biocompatible spacer based cationic gemini surfactant.…”