title: Cyclodextrin-surfactant complex: a new route in DNA decompaction.
abstract: In the present work, we show a new approach for decompaction of DNA-cationic surfactant complexes, e.g., lipoplexes, by using beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD). The DNA decompaction was achieved by dissolving the surfactant aggregates in the complex by making use of the high affinity between the beta-CD and the free surfactant in solution. The results from fluorescence microscopy and adiabatic compressibility measurements indicate that coils and globules do not coexist. The reported procedure using beta-CD is an efficient way to decompact DNA surfactant complexes because the association constant of surfactants with beta-CD is large. The surfactant's interaction with beta-CD is specific and the nonspecific interaction between beta-CD and biological interfaces is small.
authors.affiliation: Physical Chemistry 1, Centre for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, 22100 Lund, Sweden. alfredo.gonzalez_perez@fkem1.lu.se
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González-Pérez
authors.forename: Rita S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: Tommy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nylander
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lindman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017122:Bacteriophage T4 / Q000235:genetics; D004278:DNA, Superhelical / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008722:Methods; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D047392:beta-Cyclodextrins / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004278:DNA, Superhelical; D004279:DNA, Viral; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D047392:beta-Cyclodextrins; C031215:betadex