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Updated: May 19, 2026

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids
Published on: April 22, 2016
Heterocyclic cationic gemini surfactants: a comparative overview of their synthesis, self-assembling,
Vishnu Dutt Sharma1, Marc A Ilies
1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Moulder Center for Drug Discovery Research, Temple University School of Pharmacy, 3307 N Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19140.
Abstract:
Gemini surfactants (GS) are presently receiving substantial attention due to their special self-assembling properties and unique interfacial activity. This comprehensive review is focused on positively charged heterocyclic GS, presenting their major synthetic access routes and examining the impact of structural elements on physicochemical and aggregation properties of this class of amphiphiles. Interaction of geminis surfactants with cells and their biological properties as novel transfection agents are emphasized through a detailed structure-activity relationship analysis. Throughout the review we have also presented the properties of selected ammonium GS, simple surfactants and lipid congeners, in order to emphasize the advantages conferred by using heterocyclic polar heads in GS design.
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