Issue 7, 2007
From the journal:

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics

Thermodynamic and aggregation properties of aza- and imino-substituted gemini surfactants designed for gene delivery†

Shawn D. Wettig,a   Chuanzhong Wang,b   Ronald E. Verrallb  and  Marianna Foldvari*c  

* Corresponding authors

a College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, 110 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
E-mail: shawn.wettig@usask.ca
Fax: 1 306 966 6377
Tel: 1 306 966 6338

b Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan, 110 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
E-mail: chuan.wang@usask.ca; ron.verrall@usask.ca
Fax: 1 306 966 4730
Tel: 1 306 966 4669

c School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada
E-mail: foldvari@uwaterloo.ca
Fax: 1 519 500 7535
Tel: 1 519-888-4567 ext.38164

Abstract

Improving the efficiency of gene delivery by using non-viral vectors is currently an area of considerable research interest. Novel derivatives of gemini surfactants having aza- (12-5N-12, 12-7N-12, 12-8N-12) and imino- (12-7NH-12) substituted spacer groups and C12 tails have been designed to improve DNA transfection. Physicochemical characterization of micelle and interfacial properties of these cationic compounds are reported. The effect of these substitutions on the aggregation properties of the gemini surfactants is discussed in the context of results for the 12-s-12 and 12-EOx-12 gemini series, previously reported in the literature. Aza substitution results in a spacer of intermediate hydrophobicity to the above series, reflected by the magnitude of both the critical micelle concentrations and head group areas. Enthalpy and apparent molar volume of micellization data illustrate the differences in the aggregation properties that result from the bulkier and more hydrophobic aza-substituent in the spacer as compared to an ether oxygen (for the 12-EOx-12 series) containing spacer. The 12-7N-12 and 12-8N-12 compounds show aberrant features in the surface tension and enthalpy of dilution results that are not observed for the 12-5N-12 and 12-7NH-12 compounds. Premicelle association is considered to be a source of this behaviour.

Graphical abstract: Thermodynamic and aggregation properties of aza- and imino-substituted gemini surfactants designed for gene delivery

About
Cited by
Related
Download options Please wait...

Supplementary files

Article information

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1039/B613269C
Article type
Paper
Submitted
13 Sep 2006
Accepted
21 Nov 2006
First published
14 Dec 2006

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2007,9, 871-877

Permissions

Request permissions

Thermodynamic and aggregation properties of aza- and imino-substituted gemini surfactants designed for gene delivery

S. D. Wettig, C. Wang, R. E. Verrall and M. Foldvari, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2007, 9, 871 DOI: 10.1039/B613269C

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements