A new procedure for the monitoring of cationic detergents in solution

The paper describes a new procedure for the selective monitoring of cationic surfactants in solution. The procedure is based on the fact that cationic surfactants are accumulated inside mitochondria by a potential-driven mechanism. Once inside, the surfactant induces the release of the dye Safranine, previously accumulated inside mitochondria. Therefore the monitoring consists of a direct spectrophotometric measure of the rate of release of safranine in the resuspending medium containing the cationic surfactant.