Cationic microemulsion hosting polynucleotides: Effect of NaCl on host and guest

The structural features of the quaternary water-in-oil microemulsion CTAB/n-hexane/n-pentanol/water in the presence of fairly high concentrations of NaCl and of relatively high molecular weight polynucleotides have been determined. Even in these severe conditions, the hosting system can still be depicted as formed by water droplets stabilised by a surfactant/cosurfactant layer. Moreover, the time stability of the host/guest system has been evaluated and the phase behaviour of the hosting system in the presence of increasing concentrations of NaCl determined.