Re-dissolution and de-compaction of DNA-cationic surfactant complexes using non-ionic surfactants.

Addition of a cationic surfactant to a solution of DNA causes the formation of compacted DNA-cationic surfactant complexes which precipitate from aqueous solution. It has been shown previously that addition of anionic surfactant will re-dissolve and de-compact the DNA-cationic surfactant complexes and we find that addition of non-ionic surfactants of the alkylpolyoxyethylene type can be used similarly. In principle, these de-compaction and re-dissolution processes could occur either by stripping of the cationic surfactant from the DNA into mixed micelles with the non-ionic surfactant or by solubilisation of the DNA-cationic surfactant complexes within the non-ionic micelles.