The adsorption layers of complexes between DNA and oppositely charged surfactants dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) at the solution/air interface were studied with surface tensiometry, dilational surface rheology, atomic force microscopy, Brewster angle microscopy, infrared absorption-reflection spectroscopy, and ellipsometry. Measurements of the kinetic dependencies of the surface properties gave a possibility to discover the time intervals corresponding to the coexistence of two-dimensional phases. One can assume that the observed phase transition is of the first order, unlike the formation of microaggregates in the adsorption layers of mixed solutions of synthetic polyelectrolytes and surfactants. The multitechniques approach together with the calculations of the adsorption kinetics allowed the elucidation of the structure of coexisting surface phases and the distinguishing of four main steps of adsorption layer formation at the surface of DNA/surfactant solutions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)13435-13445
Number of pages11
JournalLangmuir
Volume32
Issue number50
DOIs
StatePublished - 20 Dec 2016

    Scopus subject areas

  • Materials Science(all)
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Surfaces and Interfaces
  • Spectroscopy
  • Electrochemistry

ID: 7628359