Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Surface Active Agents

Surface Active Agents

Surfactants, named for their behavior at interfaces, positively adsorb at the interfaces of two phases, reducing interfacial tension. Their versatility as emulsifiers, detergents, and foaming agents stems from this ability. Surfactants, often termed amphiphiles, share the property of amphipathy, with molecules having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic portions. The hydrophilic part is called the head, and the hydrophobic part, including an elongated alkyl substituent, forms the tail.Surfactants...

Micelles

Micelles

Micelle formation is an intricate process that hinges on the properties of amphiphilic or amphipathic molecules and the conditions of the system in which they are found. Amphiphilic molecules, which have both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) parts, play a critical role in this process.In aqueous environments, these molecules arrange themselves such that their hydrophilic heads are turned towards the water phase, while their hydrophobic tails are oriented away...

Solubility

Solubility

Solution, Solubility, and Solubility Equilibrium
A solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of a solvent, the major component, and a solute, the minor component. The physical state of a solution—solid, liquid, or gas—is typically the same as that of the solvent. Solute concentrations are often described with qualitative terms such as dilute (of relatively low concentration) and concentrated (of relatively high concentration).
In a solution, the solute particles (molecules,...

Colloids

Colloids

Children at play often make suspensions such as mixtures of mud and water, flour and water, or a suspension of solid pigments in water known as tempera paint. These suspensions are heterogeneous mixtures composed of relatively large particles that are visible to the naked eye or can be seen with a magnifying glass. They are cloudy, and the suspended particles settle out after mixing. On the other hand, a solution is a homogeneous mixture in which no settling occurs and in which the dissolved...

Single-Strand DNA Binding Proteins

Single-Strand DNA Binding Proteins

For successful DNA replication, the unwinding of double-stranded DNA must be accompanied by stabilization and protection of the separated single strands of the DNA. This crucial task is performed by single-strand DNA-binding (SSB) proteins. They bind to the DNA in a sequence-independent manner, which means that the nitrogenous bases of the DNA need not be present in a specific order for binding of SSB proteins to it. The binding of SSB proteins straightens single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and makes...

The Colloidal State

The Colloidal State

The formation of a colloidal system is exemplified by an aqueous solution containing Cl− ions is introduced to another containing Ag+ ions, resulting in the precipitation of solid AgCl as extremely tiny crystals. Instead of settling out as a filterable precipitate, these crystals remain suspended in the liquid, showcasing a colloidal system.A colloidal system involves colloidal particles within the approximate range of 1 to 1000 nm in at least one dimension, dispersed in a medium called...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Conjugated Polymeric Nanostructures as Potential Tools in DNA Nanotechnology: Interactions with the Double Helix.

ACS omega·2026

Same author

Azure A Dye Interaction with Double-Stranded DNA Can Be Modulated by the Ionic Strength: Choosing the Binding Mode.

ACS omega·2026

Same author

Probing the potential of rare earth elements in the development of new anticancer drugs: single molecule studies.

Beilstein journal of nanotechnology·2025

Same author

DNA binding to small anionic ligands: the case of Orange G dye.

European biophysics journal : EBJ·2025

Same author

Mechanism of DNA Intercalation by Chloroquine Provides Insights into Toxicity.

International journal of molecular sciences·2024

Same author

New Insights into the Mechanism of Action of the Drug Chloroquine: Direct Interaction with DNA and Cytotoxicity.

The journal of physical chemistry. B·2022

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 3, 2026

Assembly and Characterization of Polyelectrolyte Complex Micelles

Assembly and Characterization of Polyelectrolyte Complex Micelles

Published on: March 2, 2020

Interactions Involving Neutral Surfactants and Double-Stranded DNA: The Case of Polysorbate 80 (Tween 80).

Arthur G S de Rezende¹, Márcio S Rocha¹

¹Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil.

|March 2, 2026

Summary

Polysorbate 80 (Tween 80) interacts with DNA differently below and above its critical micelle concentration. Below CMC, it binds cooperatively; above CMC, it compacts DNA, suggesting new applications.

More Related Videos

DNA Nanotubes as a Versatile Tool to Study Semiflexible Polymers

DNA Nanotubes as a Versatile Tool to Study Semiflexible Polymers

Published on: October 25, 2017

Enhanced Oil Recovery using a Combination of Biosurfactants

Enhanced Oil Recovery using a Combination of Biosurfactants

Published on: June 3, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 3, 2026

Assembly and Characterization of Polyelectrolyte Complex Micelles

Assembly and Characterization of Polyelectrolyte Complex Micelles

Published on: March 2, 2020

DNA Nanotubes as a Versatile Tool to Study Semiflexible Polymers

DNA Nanotubes as a Versatile Tool to Study Semiflexible Polymers

Published on: October 25, 2017

Enhanced Oil Recovery using a Combination of Biosurfactants

Enhanced Oil Recovery using a Combination of Biosurfactants

Published on: June 3, 2022

Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Molecular Biology
Physical Chemistry

Background:

Surfactants are widely used in biological applications.
Understanding surfactant-DNA interactions is crucial for various fields, including drug delivery and molecular biology.
Polysorbate 80 (Tween 80) is a common non-ionic surfactant with limited characterization regarding its interaction with DNA at the single-molecule level.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the interaction of polysorbate 80 (Tween 80) with double-stranded DNA.
To elucidate the binding mechanisms of Tween 80 to DNA below and above its critical micelle concentration (CMC) using single-molecule techniques.
To explore the potential of Tween 80 in DNA compaction for novel applications.

Main Methods:

Single-molecule force spectroscopy using optical tweezers.
Characterization of DNA-surfactant interactions under nearly physiological conditions.
Determination of binding mechanisms and association constants.

Main Results:

Below the CMC, individual Tween 80 molecules exhibit cooperative binding along the DNA double helix.
A high equilibrium association constant ( K_a ≈ 1 × 10⁶ M^-1) was determined for Tween 80 binding below the CMC.
Above the CMC (≳140 μM), Tween 80 micelles were observed to compact DNA.

Conclusions:

Tween 80 displays distinct binding modes with DNA depending on its concentration relative to the CMC.
The cooperative binding below CMC and DNA compaction above CMC highlight the versatile interaction of Tween 80 with DNA.
These findings provide a single-molecule-level understanding of DNA-surfactant interactions and suggest potential applications in DNA manipulation and delivery systems.