title: Confinement of DNA in water-in-oil microemulsions.
abstract: The study of systems that allow DNA condensation in confined environments is an important task in producing cell-mimicking microreactors capable of biochemical activities. The water droplets formed in water-in-oil emulsions are potentially good candidates for such microcompartments. The anionic surfactant AOT was used here to stabilize the droplets. We have studied in detail the DNA distribution and the structural modifications of these microemulsion drops by varying the concentration and molecular weight of DNA and using various techniques such as light, X-ray, and neutron scattering, electrical conductivity, and surface tension. DNA induces the formation of large drops into which it is internalized. The size of these drops depends on the amount of DNA dissolved in water as well as on its molecular weight. The local DNA concentration is very high (>100 mg/mL). The large drops coexist with small empty drops (not containing DNA), similar to those found in the DNA-free microemulsion.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, UMR 8502 Universite Paris-Sud, 91405 Orsay, France.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Swami
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Espinosa
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guillot
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Raspaud
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boué
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Langevin
mesh_terms: D002627:Chemistry, Physical / Q000379:methods; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004655:Emulsions / Q000737:chemistry*; D008027:Light; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009821:Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet / Q000379:methods; D013499:Surface Properties; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D009821:Oils; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D014867:Water; D004247:DNA