Effect Of Chain Length On Transfection Properties Of Spermine-Based Gemini Surfactants

The synthesis and associated structure - activity relationships for gene transfection of a series of spermine-derived cationic gemini surfactants incorporating diamino acid headgroups and either identical ( symmetrical) or different ( unsymmetrical) lipophilic tailgroups is described. Transfection activity is found to depend critically upon the structural elements present.