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Updated: Jul 13, 2026
Synthesis of Wavelength-shifting DNA Hybridization Probes by Using Photostable Cyanine Dyes
Published on: July 6, 2016
Synthesis, characterization, and use of asymmetric pyrenyl-gemini surfactants as emissive components in DNA-lipoplex
Chuanzhong Wang1, Shawn D Wettig, Marianna Foldvari
1Central Equipment Laboratory, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9, Canada.
Abstract:
Gemini surfactants are potential candidates as synthetic vectors for the delivery of genes into cells to induce protein expression. With the ultimate objective of obtaining a better understanding of the mechanism of DNA transfection, two new asymmetric gemini surfactants (py-3-12 and py-6-12) have been synthesized as fluorescence probes. The physicochemical properties and morphologies of the self-assembled aggregates formed in aqueous solution have been studied using surface tension, specific conductance, dynamic light scattering (DLS), isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and fluorescence techniques. The interaction between pyrene-based gemini surfactants and DNA was investigated by using UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. Binding constants for the DNA (salmon sperm)-gemini lipoplexes were measured. Fluorescence studies show that excimer emission occurs upon complexation with DNA.
