Spectroscopic study on interaction between three cationic surfactants with different alkyl chain lengths and DNA

• Interaction of surfactants with different alkyl chain lengths with DNA was studied.
• The major binding modes were obtained by spectroscopy and viscosity techniques.
• Strength of action of surfactants with different chain lengths on DNA was compared.
• The effects of NaCl and PO43- concentration on interaction were assessed.

In this study, the interaction between cationic surfactants with different alkyl chain lengths, such as hexyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (HTAB), dodecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB) and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), and DNA was investigated by UV–vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and viscosity techniques. The results showed that these three cationic surfactants with different hydrocarbon chain lengths could all interact with DNA. Their binding modes were estimated and their interaction strength was compared. In addition, the effects of the surfactant, NaCl and phosphate ion concentrations on the interaction were reviewed. It is wished that this work would provide some valuable references to investigate the influence of cationic surfactants with different alkyl chain lengths on DNA.

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