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Complexation of DNA with Cationic Surfactant

P. S. Kuhn, Marcia C. Barbosa, Y. Levin

cond-matarXiv:cond-mat/9904447

Abstract

Transfection of an anionic polynucleotide through a negatively charged membrane is an important problem in genetic engineering. The direct association of cationic surfactant to DNA decreases the effective negative charge of the nucleic acid, allowing the DNA-surfactant complex to approach a negatively charged membrane. The paper develops a theory for solutions composed of polyelectrolyte, salt, and ionic surfactant. The theoretical predictions are compared with the experimental measurements.

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