C12E8 is a non-ionic surfactant, its full name is surfactant polyoxyethylene glycol, it belongs to the polyoxyethylene ether surfactant [1]. C12E8 regulates the curvature and morphological transition of phospholipid vesicle membrane in a concentration-dependent manner, promoting natural morphological changes at low concentrations and inducing abnormal deformation and ultimately leading to vesicle disintegration at high concentrations [2-3].
In DC3F cells, C12E8 (0.05mg/mL; 45min) decreases the voltage required for irreversible electroporation in planar lipid bilayers [4]. In erythrocytes, large flat invaginations/endovesicles with a compressed central region and a globular periphery were found in sections of erythrocytes treated with C12E8 (44μM; 60 min) [5].
References:
[1]. Ruiz CC, Molina-Bolívar JA. Characterization of mixed non-ionic surfactants n-octyl-β-d-thioglucoside and octaethylene–glycol monododecyl ether: Micellization and microstructure. Journal of colloid and interface science. 2011 Sep 1; 361(1): 178-185.
[2]. Mavcic B, Babnik B, Iglic A, et al. Shape transformation of giant phospholipid vesicles at high concentrations of C12E8. Bioelectrochemistry. 2004 Jun 1; 63(1-2): 183-187.
[3]. Guo Y. Surface interactions between poly (ethylene glycol) and phospholipid bilayers: Effects on aggregation and fusion. State University of New York at Buffalo; 1993.
[4]. Kanduser M, Fosnaric M, Sentjurc M, et al. Effect of surfactant polyoxyethylene glycol (C12E8) on electroporation of cell line DC3F. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects. 2003 Mar 12; 214(1-3): 205-217.
[5]. Bobrowska-Hägerstrand M, Kralj-Iglič V, Iglič A, et al. Torocyte membrane endovesicles induced by octaethyleneglycol dodecylether in human erythrocytes. Biophysical journal. 1999 Dec 1; 77(6): 3356-3362.