Aggregation behaviors of gemini nucleotide at the air-water interface and in solutions induced by adenine-uracil interaction

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2005 Mar 15;283(2):555-64. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2004.09.003.

Abstract

Cationic gemini surfactants having nucleotides as counterions (called nucleo-gemini hereafter) were synthesized and their aggregation behavior at air-water surfaces as well as in bulk solutions were studied. Fluid solutions of these nucleo-gemini surfactants show transitions to hydrogels upon addition of complementary nucleoside bases or other nucleo-gemini surfactants having complementary bases as counterions. The FTIR-ATR measurements show that the carboxylate groups of uridine form hydrogen bonds with the amine groups of adenosine. The aggregation behavior was also confirmed at the air-water interface by Brewster angle microscopy as well as surface pressure measurements; the monolayer of a gemini nucleotide was observed to undergo a transition to multilayers when nucleosides with complementary bases were added into the subphase. Isotherm curves of surface pressure monitored in parallel show a decrease in molecular area upon addition of such nucleosides.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenine / chemistry*
  • Air
  • Cations / chemistry
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nucleotides / chemical synthesis*
  • Nucleotides / chemistry
  • Particle Size
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Solutions / chemistry
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / methods
  • Surface Properties
  • Surface-Active Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Surface-Active Agents / chemistry
  • Uracil / chemistry*
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Cations
  • Nucleotides
  • Solutions
  • Surface-Active Agents
  • Water
  • Uracil
  • Adenine