Fluorescence quenching of beta-carboline alkaloids in micellar media. A study to select the adequate surfactant to use in analytical techniques.

The study of fluorescence quenching of the fluorophores allows the localization of the alkaloids (harmane and harmine) in the micelles (SDS, CTAB, Brij-35) to be established. In aqueous micellar solutions (SDS and Brij-35) at pH 13.0, emission corresponding to the neutral or zwitterionic forms can be observed. In the presence of CTAB (pH = 13.0) it was possible to observe the emission of anionic form. These species are not present in buffered aqueous solutions at these pH values. Bromide ion was added to the different surfactant solutions and the quenching effect was studied according to the Stern-Volmer equation. In the presence of SDS the quenching effect is considerably reduced compared to the aqueous solutions without surfactants, while for Brij-35 micelles were similar to those observed in homogeneous aqueous solution. For CTAB micelles a notable fluorescence quenching was observed for the different pH values studied. The fluorescence quenching studies show that the neutral species are associated inside the micelles, instead of the ionic species (cationic, zwitterionic or anionic) remaining on the surface of the micelles. The anionic surface of SDS micelles prevents the quenching effect by anionic quenchers for both neutral and charged species.     

Adsorption of surfactants on a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas aeruginosa</Emphasis> strain and the effect on cell surface lypohydrophilic property

The adsorption behavior of five surfactants, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), Triton X-100, Tween 80, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and rhamnolipid, on a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain and the effect of temperature and ionic strength (IS) on the adsorption were studied. The change of cell surface lypohydrophilic property caused by surfactant adsorption was also investigated. The results showed that the adsorption kinetics of the surfactants on the cell followed the second-order law. CTAB adsorption was the fastest one under the experimental conditions, and it took longest for SDS adsorption to equilibrate because of electric repulsion. The adsorption of Triton X-100 and Tween 80 was characterized by short equilibration time, and rhamnolipid adsorption reached equilibrium in about 90 min. The adsorption isotherms of all the surfactants on the bacterium fitted Freundlich equation well, but the adsorption capacity and mode were variations for the surfactants as indicated by k and n parameters in the equations. The adsorption mode for all the surfactants except SDS is probably hydrophilic interaction because the adsorption totally turned the cell surface to be more hydrophobic. Neither the temperature nor the IS had significant effect on CTAB adsorption, but higher IS significantly enhanced SDS adsorption and modestly strengthened adsorption of Triton X-100, Tween 80, and rhamnolipid. Higher temperature strengthened adsorption of SDS but weakened the adsorption of Triton X-100, Tween 80, and rhamnolipid.     

Mycotoxins in laboratory rodent feed

Twenty-one batches of fixed-formula rodent diets from three feed manufacturers were tested for the presence of five mycotoxins: deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), HT-2 toxin, T-2 toxin and ochratoxin A (OTA). Five batches were also tested for the presence of zearalenone (ZEN) and six batches for aflatoxins. Detectable levels of DON (up to 298 microg/kg), NIV (up to 118 microg/kg), OTA (up to 3.1 microg/kg) or ZEN (up to 26.7 microg/kg) were found in samples from all manufacturers. Three batches contained two (DON or NIV and OTA or ZEN) and one batch contained three (DON, OTA and ZEN) different mycotoxins. Aflatoxins, T-2 and HT-2 were not detected in any of the batches. The concentrations of mycotoxins detected in the feed were low, but indicated that feed ingredients, probably the cereal ingredients, were contaminated by mycotoxins. Since mycotoxins are known to have toxic and/or immunosuppressive effects, non-contaminated ingredients should be used for production of laboratory animal feed. The results imply that an improved quality control of ingredients used for laboratory rodent feed should be implemented.     

Effects of surfactants on emulsification and secondary structure of lysozyme in aqueous solutions

This paper reports our investigations on the secondary structure of lysozyme in aqueous solution with D₂O and comparing systems emulsified with ionic and non-ionic amphiphiles, respectively. The opposite effect of concentration of surfactants on the lysozyme aqueous system was studied and the activity of lysozyme by the turbidimetric assay with different kinds of surfactant was compared. The effect of different surfactants on emulsification volume formed was observed and discussed. The different interactive patterns between lysozyme and ionic and non-ionic surfactants, such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and Triton-X100 (Isooctoylphenoxypolyethoxy ethanol), respectively, was studied with FTIR. A simple relationship between the secondary structure and denaturation of protein is given for the emulsification of lysozyme in aqueous solutions. It is important for understanding the stabilization and avoiding the emulsions in the extraction process that the interactions between the proteins and surfactants which leads to the formation of such complexes are characterized. The utility of surfactants as a de-emulsifying agent for the commercial process to extract penicillin G from the filtrate of fermentation broth was consistent with these results.     

Photophysical and photodynamic properties of Pyronin Y in micellar media at different temperatures

In this study, photophysics and photodynamical properties of Pyronin Y (PyY) in different liquid media were investigated. Interactions of PyY, which is a positively charged pigment compound pertaining to the xanthene derivatives with surfactants possessing distinct charges, were determined by using the molecular absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy techniques. It was observed that band intensities of absorption and fluorescence spectra belonging to PyY increase in proportion to the water when compared to three micelle systems, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and Triton X‐100 (TX‐100). This suggests that interactions in micelle systems are different from those in deionized water, and solvation and surface interactions modify. It is determined that the strongest interaction occurs between PyY dye and SDS, anionic surfactant, and this interaction arises from the electrostatic forces. Calculated photophysical parameters indicated that the microenvironment of PyY in SDS micelle is different to that of other systems. In temperature studies, it was reported that increasing the temperature of the samples increased non‐radiative transitions. Steady‐state fluorescence anisotropy values were calculated by using fluorescence intensities of PyY compound in pre‐micellar, micellar and post‐micellar systems. Once the PyY fluorescence probe is added to the surfactant containing solutions below the critical micelle concentrations, the measured anisotropy values were found to be low because the probe remains in the deionized water phase. When the surfactant concentration of the medium becomes closer to the critical micelle concentrations, the steady‐state anisotropy value prominently increases. This is because of the restrictions on the rotational diffusion of the probe in micellar solution. It is observed that positively charged PyY shows a higher affinity to the negatively charged SDS compared with the positively charged CTAB and neutral TX‐100 surfactants. This can be explained by Coulombic interactions.     

Characterization of partially folded intermediates of papain in presence of cationic, anionic, and nonionic detergents at low pH

A systematic investigation of the effects of detergents [Sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), hexa decyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and Tween-20] on the structure of acid-unfolded papain (EC.3.4.22.2) was made using circular dichroism (CD), intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence, and 1-anilino 8-sulfonic acid (ANS) binding. At pH 2, papain exhibits a substantial amount of secondary structure and is relatively less denatured compared with 6 M GdnHCl (guanidine hydrochloride) but loses the persistent tertiary contacts of the native state. Addition of detergents caused an induction of alpha-helical structure as evident from the increase in the mean residue ellipticity value at 208 and 222 nm. Near-UV CD spectra also showed the regain of native-like spectral features in the presence of 8 mM SDS and 3.5 mM CTAB. Induction of structure in acid-unfolded papain was greater in the presence SDS followed by CTAB and Tween-20. Intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence studies indicate the change in the environment of tryptophan residues upon addition of detergents to acid-unfolded papain. Addition of 8 mM SDS resulted in the loss of ANS binding sites exhibited by a decrease in ANS fluorescence intensity, suggesting the burial of hydrophobic patches. Maximum ANS binding was obtained in the presence of 0.1 mM Tween-20 followed by CTAB, indicating a compact "molten-globule"-like conformation with enhanced exposure of hydrophobic surface area. Acid-unfolded papain in the presence of detergents showed the partial recovery of enzymatic activity. These results suggest that papain at low pH and in the presence of SDS exists in a partially folded state characterized by native-like secondary structure and tertiary folds. While in the presence of Tween, acid-unfolded papain exists as a compact intermediate with molten-globule-like characteristics, viz. enhanced hydrophobic surface area and retention of secondary structure. While in the presence of CTAB it exists as a compact intermediate with regain of native-like secondary and partial tertiary structure as well as high ANS binding with the partially recovered enzymatic activity, i.e., a molten globule state with tertiary folds.     

Sorptive affinity of ionic surfactants on silt loamy soil

Due to their broad applications, ionic surfactants have already been released into or utilized in soil and environmental systems. However, current understanding on the sorption behavior of surfactants onto soils is still limited. This work systematically investigated the sorption kinetics and isotherms of one cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), and one anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), onto a silt loamy soil to determine the governing sorption mechanisms. The pseudo-second-order rate equation described the sorption kinetics data better than the pseudo-first-order rate equation. Experimental data showed that the sorption equilibrium for CTAB and SDS were reached at 24 and 240 h, respectively. Langmuir equation was better than Freundlich equation in simulating the sorption isotherms of CTAB and SDS on the soil. Soil Langmuir maximum sorption capacity of CTAB was much higher than that to SDS. When the experimental temperature increased, the sorption of CTAB and SDS on the soil decreased. In addition, the sorptive process of the surfactants on the soil was spontaneous and exothermal, as indicated by the absolute values of Gibbs free energy and enthalpy. The results also indicated that physical sorption was the dominant mechanism for the sorption of the two surfactants on the soil. Findings from this work are crucial to understand the environmental behaviors of ionic surfactants.     

Spectral properties and inclusion of a hetero-chalcone analogue in organized media of micellar solutions and beta-cyclodextrin

The absorption and fluorescence emission spectral properties of 3-(4'-dimethylaminophenyl)-1-(2-thienyl)prop-2-en-1-one, abbreviated as DMATP, have been investigated in organized media of aqueous micellar and beta-cyclodextrin (CD) solutions. While the absorption spectra are less sensitive to the nature of the added surfactant or CD, the characteristics of the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) fluorescence are highly sensitive to the properties of the medium. The ICT maximum is strongly blue-shifted with a great enhancement in the fluorescence quantum yield on adding micellar or CD solutions. This indicates the solubilization of DMATP in the micellar core and formation of an inclusion complex with beta-CD. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) as well as the polarity of the micellar core of SDS, CTAB and TX-100 have been determined. The CMC values are in good agreement with the reported values while the polarity is lower indicating that DMATP molecules are incorporated in the micellar core not at the micellar interface. The inclusion constants of binding of DMATP in micellar or CD have been also determined. The thermodynamic parameters of formation of DMATP:CD inclusion complex have been calculated from the temperature dependence of the fluorescence spectra of the formed complex. The negative enthalpy and free energy of formation indicate that the inclusion process is energetically favorable. The highly negative value of formation entropy (DeltaS = -162.3 J mol(-1) K(-1)) reflects the high restrictions imposed on the movement of both the host and included guest molecules which is consistent with the increase of the fluorescence yield and blue shift of the fluorescence maximum.     

Effects of some divalent metal ions on the aging phenomenon of hematoporphyrin and photofrin II

Dilute aqueous solutions of hematoporphyrin (Hp) and its derivative (Hpd or PF II) have been found to undergo a transformation (aging) on keeping at room temperature leading to (i) shift of the Soret band from 395 nm to 405 nm, (ii) disappearance of visible bands I (610 nm) and IV (503 nm) and (iii) shift of the first emission band from 615 nm to 580 nm. The transformation was concentration dependent. The effects of concentration and temperature on the absorption spectra were much more pronounced in Hp than in Photofrin II (PF II). Variation of pH resulted in changes in the relative intensities of the absorption bands, possibly due to formation of different ionic species at different pH. The rate of transformation was accelerated in the presence of Zn ions (0.01 microM) and considerably increased at higher (50 microM) concentration. The effect of Cu ions was different from the effect of aging. It formed the metal-chelate even when present in very small amounts. The results (absorption and fluorescence analysis) suggest that in dilute solutions (conc. less than or equal to 2 microM) of Hp and PF II, Zn ions present in glass and water as impurity, deform the porphyrin nucleus leading to changes in the conjugated ring symmetry and hence changes in the absorption and fluorescence spectra, while in higher concentrations (greater than 2 microM) it forms the metal chelate as evidenced by their absorption and fluorescence spectra.     

Comparative effects of four surfactants on growth,contraction and adhesion of cultured human fibroblasts

A range of surfactants, including the anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate, the cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and the nonionics octylphenoxy polyethoxyethanol (Triton X100) and polyoxyethylene 20 sorbitan monoleate (Tween 80) was studied for effects on proliferation, contractibility and attachment of cultured human fibroblasts. Only ionic surfactants exhibited a stimulatory effect on fibroblast proliferation, whereas all the surfactants tested increased the contraction of collagen gels containing fibroblasts, with the greatest effect from the non-ionic surfactants. This activity was not correlated with an increase of cell population or cell attachment within the collagenous matrix. The activity of the surfactants was seen only at levels close to their LD₅₀ values and in a narrow range of concentrations. Thus, we consider that they are the result of the so-called hormesis phenomenon.Abbreviations CTAB cetyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide - FCS fetal calf serum - LD₁₀₀ dose lethal to 100% of exposed - MCD maximal contraction dose - PDL population doubling level - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate     

Effect of surfactants on stability of Acinetobacter johnsonii S35 and Oligotropha carboxidovorans S23 coaggregates

The effect of anionic (sodium dodecyl sulphate or SDS) and cationic (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide or CTAB) surfactants on the stability of binary bacterial coaggregates comprising Acinetobacter johnsonii S35 and Oligotropha carboxidovorans S23 (both sewage sludge isolates) was studied and compared with that on the complex sewage sludge flocs. Both SDS and CTAB enhanced the bacterial coaggregation at their lower concentrations of 0.2 and 0.07 mg ml(-1), respectively. However, complete deflocculation of coaggregates was observed at 1 mg ml(-1) SDS and 0.3 mg l(-1) CTAB concentrations. Further, sewage sludge flocs did not deflocculate in the presence of CTAB, although a concentration-dependent deflocculation was observed in the presence of SDS. A. johnsonii S35 and O. carboxidovorans S23 cells were separately pretreated (prior to coaggregation) with the surfactants. In spite of the partial (complete) loss of viability during SDS (CTAB) pretreatment, washed cells still retained hydrophobic character and displayed significant coaggregation (aggregation index ranging from 84% to 97% in comparison to 96% in the case of non-treated cells), demonstrating reversibility of the surfactant induced deflocculation. Further, when exposed to lower concentration of surfactants (0.2 mg ml(-1) SDS), coaggregates were more resistant (76% viability) as compared to the individual partner (S35: 52%; S23: 39% viability). Since the coaggregates are stable and provide protection from surfactants at lower concentrations (those normally expected in the sewage treatment plants), their presence as well as a sustained role in the sewage sludge bioflocculation is evident.     

α-Amylase production with Bacillus subtilis in the presence of PEG and surfactants

Summary -Amylase production with Bacillus subtilis was studied in the presence of PEG 600 and PEG 3350 as well as different surfactants: Trixon X-100, Tween 80, CTAB (cetylammonium-bromide) and SDS (sodiumdodecylsulphate) at concentrations resulting in comparable decreases in surface tension. Only PEG 600, at a concentration of 200 g/kg, was found to increase the enzyme production. Cell growth estimated as optical density at 620 nm and viable counts were not influenced by either PEG or surfactants. The results are discussed in relation to -amylase production in aqueous two-phase systems.     

How do surfactants and DTT affect the size, dynamics, activity and growth of soluble lysozyme aggregates?

The early intermediates in the protein aggregation pathway, the elusive soluble aggregates, play a pivotal role in growth and maturation of ordered aggregates such as amyloid fibrils. Blocking the growth of soluble oligomers is an effective strategy to inhibit aggregation. To decipher the molecular mechanisms and develop better strategies to arrest aggregation, it is imperative to understand how the size, molecular dynamics, activity and growth kinetics of soluble aggregates are affected when aggregation is inhibited. With this objective, in the present study we have investigated the influence of additives such as SDS, CTAB (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) and DTT (dithiothreitol) on the slow aggregation of HEWL (hen eggwhite lysozyme) at pH 12.2. For this purpose, techniques such as steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy of covalently labelled dansyl probe, gel-filtration chromatography, estimation of free thiol groups, thioflavin T and ANS (8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulfonic acid) fluorescence, CD and atomic-force microscopy were employed to monitor the soluble oligomers over a period spanning 30 days. The results of the present study reveal that: (i) the spontaneous formation of soluble aggregates is irreversible and abolishes activity; (ii) the initial growth of aggregates (0-24 h) is promoted by a gradual increase in the exposure of hydrophobic surfaces; (iii) subsequently intermolecular disulfide bonds are critical for the assembly and stability of aggregates; (iv) the tight molecular packing inside large aggregates which contributed to slow (approximately 5 ns) and restricted segmental motion of dansyl probe was clearly loosened up in the presence of additives, enabling fast (1-2 ns) and free motion (unlike DTT, the size of lysozyme complexes with surfactants, was large, due to a conglomeration of proteins and surfactants); (v) the aggregates show reduced helical content compared with native lysozyme, except in the presence of SDS; and (vi) DTT was more potent than SDS/CTAB in arresting the growth of aggregates.     

Spectroscopic characterization of 2-amino-N-hexadecyl-benzamide (AHBA), a new fluorescence probe for membranes

We report the results of investigation on the spectroscopic properties of a new fluorescent lipophylic probe. The fluorophore o-aminobenzoic acid was covalently bound to the acyl chain hexadecylamine, producing the compound 2-amino-N-hexadecyl-benzamide. The behavior of the probe was dependent on the polarity of the medium: absorption and emission spectral position, quantum yield and lifetime decay indicate distinct behavior in water compared to ethanol and cyclohexane. The probe dissolves in the organic solvents, as indicated by the very low value of steady state fluorescence anisotropy and the short rotational correlation times obtained from fluorescence anisotropy decay measurements. On the other hand, the probe has low solubility in water, leading to the formation of aggregates in aqueous medium. The complex absorption spectrum in water was interpreted as originating from different forms of aggregation, as deduced from the wavelength dependence of anisotropy parameters. The probe interacts with surfactants in pre-micellar and micellar forms, as observed in experiments in the presence of sodium n-dodecylsulphate (SDS), n-cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB); 3-(dodecyl-dimethylammonium) propane-1-sulphonate (DPS) and 3-(hexadecyl-dimethylammonium) propane-1-sulphonate (HPS), and with vesicles of the phospholipid dimiristoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DMPC). The results demonstrate that AHBA is able to monitor properties like surface electric potential and phase transition of micelles and vesicles.     

Surfactant micelles containing protoporphyrin IX as models of primitive photocatalytic systems: a spectral study

Micelles of various surfactants containing protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) have been studied as models of primitive membrane-like photocatalytic systems. Spectral characteristics (absorption spectra, fluorescence emission and excitation spectra, fluorescence quantum yields and lifetimes) have been measured to indicate specific interactions of PPIX molecules with the micelles. Two types of PPIX aggregates are probably formed in water: non-fluorescent clusters corresponding to the absorption peak at 642-648 nm and fluorescent friable dimers with strong solute-solvent interactions corresponding to the absorption peak at 618 nm. The aggregates are solubilized by the micelles, which results in an increase of the fluorescence quantum yield (and thus in the increase of the PPIX sensitizing ability). Solubilization of PPIX molecules by SDS-micelles is enhanced by the partial neutralization of the negative surface charge of the micelles. Neutral Triton X-100 micelles solubilize PPIX much better than SDS particles; however, some of the clusters formed in the bulk aqueous phase of the detergent-water system remain aggregated in the crown of the micelle. The positively charged CTAB micelles have been shown to provide the best solubilization of PPIX accompanied by the highest increase of its emitting activity. The results are discussed in terms of the possible role of PPIX-containing membraneous systems in primitive photosynthesis.     

Fluorimetric studies on the binding of 4-(dimethylamino)cinnamic acid with micelles and bovine serum albumin

The constrained photophysics of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) probe 4-(dimethylamino)cinnamic acid (DMACA) was studied in different surfactant systems as well as in presence of model water soluble protein bovine serum albumin (BSA). Binding of the probe in ionic micelles like sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) causes an increase in ICT fluorescence intensity, whereas, in non-ionic TritonX-100 (TX-100) the intensity decreases with a concomitant increase in emission from locally excited (LE) state. The observations were explained in terms of the different binding affinity, location of the probe and also the nature of specific hydrogen bonding interaction in the excited state nonradiative relaxation process of DMACA. The ICT fluorescence emission yield decreases in BSA due to the locking in of the probe buried in the hydrophobic pocket of the protein structure. SDS induced uncoiling of protein and massive cooperative binding between BSA and SDS is manifested by the release of probe molecules in relatively free aqueous environment.     

Interaction of the antibiotic norfloxacin with ionic micelles: pH-dependent binding

The interaction of the antimicrobial drug norfloxacin (NFX) with anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) micelles was studied using the intrinsic spectroscopic properties of NFX to obtain association constants and molecular modifications. Nonionic Tween^® 20 micelles were also investigated, but the spectroscopic properties of NFX did not detect interactions with these micelles, and quenching by iodide suggested a weak association constant around 47 M^?1. For SDS and CTAB, UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, steady-state and time-resolved fluorometry were monitored as a function of surfactant concentration ranging from the premicellar to micellar region. It was found that cationic (pH 4.0) and zwitterionic NFX (pH 7.4) associate with SDS micelles, with binding constants equal to 5.4 × 10³ and 1.7 × 10³ M^?1, respectively. Premicellar interaction slightly decreases the critical micelle concentration of SDS. Association of anionic NFX (pH 10.6) is very weak. The fluorescence spectrum and lifetime showed that SDS-associated NFX is cationic and that the heterocycle penetrates the interfacial environment of decreased polarity. Cationic CTAB micelles do not bind cationic NFX, and the association constant with zwitterionic NFX is two orders of magnitude lower than that of SDS micelles. From a pharmacological point of view, it is important that at neutral pH, NFX presented a two orders of magnitude higher affinity for anionic than for cationic sites, and did not interact significantly with nonionic or zwitterionic micelle interfaces.     

Detection of uncharged or feebly charged small molecules by field-effect transistor biosensors

This paper describes a new technique for the detection of uncharged or feebly charged small molecules (<400Da) using Si field-effect transistor (FET) biosensors that are signal-enhanced by gold nanoparticle (NP) charges under dry measurement conditions. NP charges are quickly induced by a chemical deposition (that is, Au deposition) and the indirect competitive immunogold assay, and strongly enhance the electrical signals of the FET biosensors. For the validation of signal enhancement of FET biosensors based on NP charges and detection of uncharged or feebly charged small molecules, mycotoxins (MTXs) of aflatoxin-B1 (AFB1), zearalenone (ZEN), and ochratoxin-A (OTA) were used as target molecules. According to our experimental results, the signal is 100 times more enhanced than the use of the existing solution FET biosensing techniques. Furthermore, this method enables the FET biosensor to quantitatively detect target molecules, regardless of the ionic strengths, isoelectric points (pI), or pHs of the measured sample solutions.     

Surfactant-induced lipid peroxidation in a tropical euryhaline teleost Oreochromis mossambicus (Tilapia) adapted to fresh water

Exposure to anionic (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS), cationic (cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide CTAB) and non ionic (Triton X-100) surfactants at a sub lethal concentration of 1 ppm resulted in severe oxidative stress in the hepatic, renal and cardiac tissues of fresh water adapted Oreochromis mossambicus. Hepatic catalase showed significant increase (P<0.001) in all the surfactant exposed fish, but the renal enzyme was significantly increased only in CTAB dosed fish (P<0.001) and the cardiac enzyme showed significant increase in Triton (P<0.05) and CTAB dosed fish (P<0.001). SOD levels were significantly increased (P<0.001) in hepatic, renal and cardiac tissues of all the surfactant-treated fish. Glutathione reductase also was significantly increased (P<0.001) in the hepatic and renal tissues of surfactant dosed fish except cardiac tissues of CTAB exposed animals. Glutathione levels in the tissues studied were significantly higher in the surfactant treated animals (P<0.001) whereas malondialdehyde levels were significantly elevated only in the hepatic tissues of animals exposed to Triton (P<0.001). The surfactants based on their charge, antioxidant profile and in vivo metabolism may be arranged in the order of decreasing toxicity as CTAB > Triton > SDS. Thus it may be inferred from the present study that the antioxidant defenses and the in vivo metabolism of the surfactants are key factors in deciding the surfactant toxicity.     

Studies on surfactant-biopolymer interaction. I. Microcalorimetric investigation on the interaction of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) with gelatin (Gn), lysozyme (Lz) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

The interaction of the surfactants cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) with the biopolymers gelatin (Gn), lysozyme (Lz) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was studied by isothermal titration microcalorimetry at varied biopolymer concentration, pH and temperature. The nature of interaction of the surfactants with the biopolymers was assessed from the observed enthalpy-[surfactant] profiles. The biopolymer-induced aggregation of the surfactants was observed. The enthalpies of aggregation of amphiphiles, binding of aggregates with macromolecules, organisational change of bound aggregates, and threshold concentrations for micelle formation of surfactants in the presence of biopolymers were estimated. The results collected on the three biopolymers were analysed and compared.