title: Synthesis, characterization, and use of asymmetric pyrenyl-gemini surfactants as emissive components in DNA-lipoplex systems.
abstract: Gemini surfactants are potential candidates as synthetic vectors for the delivery of genes into cells to induce protein expression. With the ultimate objective of obtaining a better understanding of the mechanism of DNA transfection, two new asymmetric gemini surfactants (py-3-12 and py-6-12) have been synthesized as fluorescence probes. The physicochemical properties and morphologies of the self-assembled aggregates formed in aqueous solution have been studied using surface tension, specific conductance, dynamic light scattering (DLS), isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and fluorescence techniques. The interaction between pyrene-based gemini surfactants and DNA was investigated by using UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. Binding constants for the DNA (salmon sperm)-gemini lipoplexes were measured. Fluorescence studies show that excimer emission occurs upon complexation with DNA.
authors.affiliation: Central Equipment Laboratory, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9, Canada.
authors.forename: Chuanzhong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shawn D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Wettig
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foldvari
authors.forename: Ronald E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Verrall
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002151:Calorimetry; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D007201:Indicator Dilution Techniques; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D012474:Salmon; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D011721:Pyrenes; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D004247:DNA; C030984:pyrene