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Exploring the mysteries inside cells: How does CTAB perfectly extract DNA?
Cetrimonium bromide, abbreviated as CTAB, is a quaternary ammonium surfactant with the molecular formula [(C16H33)N(CH3)3]Br. It is not only one of the components of the topical antibacterial agent cetrimide, but also plays an important role in the fields of biology and medicine. CTAB is particularly effective for extracting DNA from cells, which allows scientists to explore the mysteries of cells and achieve excellent results in various applications, including nanotechnology and protein electrophoresis.
CTAB is a key component in the DNA extraction process, effectively removing cell membrane lipids and promoting cell lysis.
Biological Applications of CTAB
Cell lysis is a convenient tool for isolating certain macromolecules that are predominantly found within cells. Cell membranes are composed of hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups, therefore, detergents are often used to solubilize these membranes. The rise of CTAB in biological applications stems from its ability to maintain the integrity of precipitated DNA during the extraction process. Cells usually contain high concentrations of macromolecules, such as glycoproteins and polysaccharides, which can co-precipitate with DNA, resulting in loss of purity of the extracted DNA. The positive charge of CTAB enables it to denature these molecules which would interfere with the separation process.
CTAB’s potential in medicine
CTAB shows potential as a pro-apoptotic anticancer agent in head and neck cancer (HNC). In in vitro studies, CTAB interacted with gamma rays and cisplatin, both standard drugs for HNC treatment. CTAB exhibited anticancer cell toxicity against several HNC cell lines with minimal effects on normal fibroblasts, a selectivity that exploits metabolic abnormalities unique to cancer. In vivo experiments, CTAB abolished the tumorigenicity of FaDu cells and delayed the growth of established tumors. Therefore, CTAB is considered to be a potential pro-apoptotic quaternary ammonium compound with in vitro and in vivo efficacy.
CTAB has been recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a purification agent for downstream processing of polysaccharide vaccines.
The role of CTAB in nanoparticle synthesis
CTAB plays an indispensable role in the synthesis of nanoparticles. It can reduce the surface energy of formed nanoparticles and prevent the aggregation of particles. In the synthesis of gold (Au) nanoparticles, CTAB is widely used as a reagent, which not only imparts stability to the nanoparticles but also controls their shape and size. CTAB can selectively or strongly bind to a variety of developing crystal surfaces, and such control is crucial for tuning the properties of nanoparticles.
CTAB toxicity issues
However, the use of CTAB also brings some health risks. Related studies have shown that CTAB intake exceeding 150 mg can cause adverse health reactions and may even lead to death because it causes chemical burns in the esophagus and gastrointestinal tract. Animal experiments have shown that CTAB is also toxic to aquatic organisms.
ConclusionToxicity testing of CTAB showed that zebrafish exposed to a concentration of 0.3 mg/L in water developed toxicity within 96 hours, while Daphnia showed a similar response to a concentration of 0.03 mg/L within 48 hours.
CTAB has many uses, ranging from nanoparticle synthesis to medical anti-cancer. Its application in DNA extraction has revealed many mysteries inside cells. However, as its scope of use expands, related toxicity issues cannot be ignored. While we enjoy the technological convenience brought by CTAB, should we also reflect on its potential health risks?
