Small angle neutron scattering studies on the interaction of cationic surfactants with bovine serum albumin

The structure of the protein-surfactant complex of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and cationic surfactants has been studied by small angle neutron scattering. At low concentrations, the CTAB monomers are observed to bind to the protein leading to an increase in its size. On the other hand at high concentrations, surfactant molecules aggregate along the unfolded polypeptide chain of the protein resulting in the formation of a fractal structure representing a necklace model of micelle-like clusters randomly distributed along the polypeptide chain. The fractal dimension as well as the size and number of micelles attached to the complex have been determined.