This presentation will describe the use of dynamic light scattering (DLS), small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements to compare and contrast the nanostructure of complexes formed by single- or double-strand oligonucleotides with the single-tailed cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), in aqueous solutions.  Whereas SAXS and SANS spectra show that single-stand oligonucleotides and CTAB form multilamellar vesicles, double strand oligonucleotides and CTAB form a hexagonal nanostructure. In addition, our results reveal that the nucleotide composition of the single-strand oligonucleotides has a pronounced impact on the number, size and nanostructure of the complexes formed with CTAB. In contrast, for double-strand oligonucleotides, no evidence of a composition dependence on nanostructrure was measured. These results support the proposition that hydrophobic interactions, as well as electrostatics, play a central role in the formation of complexes between cationic amphiphiles and single-strand oligonucleotides and thus giving rise to interactions that depend on nucleotide composition. Overall, these results provide insights into the intermolecular interactions that occur between cationic amphiphiles and oligonucleotides, and thereby also provide guidance for the design of such complexes.

Characterization of the nanostructure of complexes formed by single- or double-stranded oligonucleotides with cationic aurfactants

245th National Meeting (2013)

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