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Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate

Drugs and Chemicals · NLM MeSH · updated 2026-10-31 · version 1

Citations verified against PubMedNot yet clinician-reviewed10 referencesApproximately 4 min read

An anionic surfactant, usually a mixture of sodium alkyl sulfates, mainly the lauryl; lowers surface tension of aqueous solutions; used as fat emulsifier, wetting agent, detergent in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and toothpastes; als

Table of Contents

1. Definition2. Research landscape3. Reading the evidence4. Open-access studies5. Key reviews6. References7. About this article

Definition and research guide

This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.

Content available: 4 complete abstracts (809 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.

Definition

An anionic surfactant, usually a mixture of sodium alkyl sulfates, mainly the lauryl; lowers surface tension of aqueous solutions; used as fat emulsifier, wetting agent, detergent in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and toothpastes; also as research tool in protein biochemistry.

Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.

Also known as: Dodecyl Sulfate, Sodium; Sulfate, Sodium Dodecyl; Sodium Lauryl Sulfate; Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium; Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl; Irium.

Where it fits in the MeSH classification

Broader topics
Dodecanol; Alkanesulfonates

Research landscape

PubMed indexes 13,339 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 847 of them (6.3%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 7,503 records.

Reviews account for 138 records (1.0%) and meta-analyses for 4. Randomized controlled trials number 174 (1.3%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.

PubMed records by publication periodthrough 1999: 7,503 records; 2000-2009: 2,613 records; 2010-2019: 2,376 records; 2020 onward: 847 records7,503through 19992,6132000-20092,3762010-20198472020 onward
Records in PubMed indexed with this heading, by publication period. Real counts from NCBI E-utilities; the final period covers only part of the current year. Volume reflects how much has been published, not how strong the evidence is.
Show the data
PeriodRecords
through 19997,503
2000-20092,613
2010-20192,376
2020 onward847
Share of records by publication typeReviews: 1.0 percent; Meta-analyses: 0.0 percent; Randomized controlled trials: 1.3 percentReviews1.0% (138)Meta-analyses0.0% (4)Randomized controlled trials1.3% (174)
Share of all PubMed records on this heading that carry each publication type. Types overlap with other records, so the shares do not sum to 100%.
Publication-type chart data
Publication types among 13,339 PubMed records
TypeRecordsShare
Reviews1381.0%
Meta-analyses40.0%
Randomized controlled trials1741.3%

Method: PubMed query "Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.

Reading the evidence in drugs and chemicals

Studies of a chemical or drug can answer very different questions: what it is and how it behaves in cells and animals, how the body handles it, and whether it changes outcomes in people. Laboratory and animal findings often do not carry over to patients, and observational studies of exposures are confounded by who uses a substance and why. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to use, avoid, start or stop any substance or medicine; talk to a qualified clinician or pharmacist about your own situation. Check the dose, the species, the comparison group and whether a patient-relevant outcome was measured.

Evidence from open-access studies

These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.

Study comparison — selected abstracts, not a systematic review
Study / authorsYearSource label / designEurope PMC citationsLicence / source
SDS can be utilized as an amyloid inducer: a case study on diverse proteins
Khan JM, Qadeer A, Chaturvedi SK, Ahmad E, Rehman SA, Gourinath S, et al.
2012Research article
Design not recorded in structured metadata
83cc by
PMID 22253760 · DOI · PMC3257246
A Light-Responsive Self-Assembly Formed by a Cationic Azobenzene Derivative and SDS as a Drug Delivery System
Geng S, Wang Y, Wang L, Kouyama T, Gotoh T, Wada S, et al.
2017Research article
Design not recorded in structured metadata
46cc by
PMID 28051069 · DOI · PMC5209711
Tryptophan confers resistance to SDS-associated cell membrane stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Schroeder L, Ikui AE
2019Research article
Design not recorded in structured metadata
45cc by
PMID 30856175 · DOI · PMC6411118
Rapid Human Skin Barrier Disruption by Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate and Associated Molecular Mechanisms
Li M, Babayev H, D'Avino P, Zeyneloğlu C, Bicer C, Yazici D, et al.
2026Research article
Design not recorded in structured metadata
1cc by
PMID 42143604 · DOI · PMC13342777

SDS can be utilized as an amyloid inducer: a case study on diverse proteins [1]

Research article Khan JM, Qadeer A, Chaturvedi SK, Ahmad E, Rehman SA, Gourinath S, et al. · · 2012 · cited 83 times (Europe PMC)

Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
Opening excerpt
Sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), an anionic surfactant that mimics some characteristics of biological membrane has also been found to induce aggregation in proteins.
Closing excerpt
This study can be used to design or hypothesize a molecule or drug, which may counter act the factor responsible for amyloid formation.
Interpretation limits
Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (126 words)

Sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), an anionic surfactant that mimics some characteristics of biological membrane has also been found to induce aggregation in proteins. The present study was carried out on 25 diverse proteins using circular dichroism, fluorescence spectroscopy, dye binding assay and electron microscopy. It was found that an appropriate molar ratio of protein to SDS readily induced amyloid formation in all proteins at a pH below two units of their respective isoelectric points (pI) while no aggregation was observed at a pH above two units of pI. We also observed that electrostatic interactions play a leading role in the induction of amyloid. This study can be used to design or hypothesize a molecule or drug, which may counter act the factor responsible for amyloid formation.

Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 22253760 · DOI · PMC3257246

A Light-Responsive Self-Assembly Formed by a Cationic Azobenzene Derivative and SDS as a Drug Delivery System [2]

Research article Geng S, Wang Y, Wang L, Kouyama T, Gotoh T, Wada S, et al. · · 2017 · cited 46 times (Europe PMC)

Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
Opening excerpt
The structure of a self-assembly formed from a cationic azobenzene derivative, 4-cholesterocarbonyl-4'-(N,N,N-triethylamine butyloxyl bromide) azobenzene (CAB) and surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in aqueous solution was studied by cryo-TEM and synchrotron radiation small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS).
Closing excerpt
CAB/SDS catanionic vesicles may find potential applications as a smart drug delivery system for controlled release by light.
Interpretation limits
Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (201 words)

The structure of a self-assembly formed from a cationic azobenzene derivative, 4-cholesterocarbonyl-4'-(N,N,N-triethylamine butyloxyl bromide) azobenzene (CAB) and surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in aqueous solution was studied by cryo-TEM and synchrotron radiation small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Both unilamellar and multilamellar vesicles could be observed. CAB in vesicles were capable to undergo reversible trans-to-cis isomerization upon UV or visible light irradiation. The structural change upon UV light irradiation could be catched by SAXS, which demonstrated that the interlamellar spacing of the cis-multilamellar vesicles increased by 0.2-0.3 nm. Based on this microstructural change, the release of rhodamine B (RhB) and doxorubicin (DOX) could be triggered by UV irradiation. When incubated NIH 3T3 cells and Bel 7402 cells with DOX-loaded CAB/SDS vesicles, UV irradiation induced DOX release decreased the viability of both cell lines significantly compared with the non-irradiated cells. The in vitro experiment indicated that CAB/SDS vesicles had high efficiency to deliver loaded molecules into cells. The in vivo experiment showed that CAB/SDS vesicles not only have high drug delivery efficiency into rat retinas, but also could maintain high drug concentration for a longer time. CAB/SDS catanionic vesicles may find potential applications as a smart drug delivery system for controlled release by light.

Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 28051069 · DOI · PMC5209711

Tryptophan confers resistance to SDS-associated cell membrane stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae [3]

Research article Schroeder L, Ikui AE · · 2019 · cited 45 times (Europe PMC)

Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
Opening excerpt
Sodium dodecyl sulfate is a detergent that disrupts cell membranes, activates cell wall integrity signaling and restricts cell growth in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Closing excerpt
In summary, we conclude that internal concentration of tryptophan and tyrosine makes cells more resistant to detergent such as sodium dodecyl sulfate.
Interpretation limits
Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (250 words)

Sodium dodecyl sulfate is a detergent that disrupts cell membranes, activates cell wall integrity signaling and restricts cell growth in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. However, the underlying mechanism of how sodium dodecyl sulfate inhibits cell growth is not fully understood. Previously, we have shown that deletion of the MCK1 gene leads to sensitivity to sodium dodecyl sulfate; thus, we implemented a suppressor gene screening revealing that the overexpression of TAT2 tryptophan permease rescues cell growth in sodium dodecyl sulfate-treated Δmck1 cells. Therefore, we questioned the involvement of tryptophan in the response to sodium dodecyl sulfate treatment. In this work, we show that trp1-1 cells have a disadvantage in the response to sodium dodecyl sulfate compared to auxotrophy for adenine, histidine, leucine or uracil when cells are grown on rich media. While also critical in the response to tea tree oil, TRP1 does not avert growth inhibition due to other cell wall/membrane perturbations that activate cell wall integrity signaling such as Calcofluor White, Congo Red or heat stress. This implicates a distinction from the cell wall integrity pathway and suggests specificity to membrane stress as opposed to cell wall stress. We discovered that tyrosine biosynthesis is also essential upon sodium dodecyl sulfate perturbation whereas phenylalanine biosynthesis appears dispensable. Finally, we observe enhanced tryptophan import within minutes upon exposure to sodium dodecyl sulfate indicating that these cells are not starved for tryptophan. In summary, we conclude that internal concentration of tryptophan and tyrosine makes cells more resistant to detergent such as sodium dodecyl sulfate.

Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 30856175 · DOI · PMC6411118

Rapid Human Skin Barrier Disruption by Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate and Associated Molecular Mechanisms [4]

Research article Li M, Babayev H, D'Avino P, Zeyneloğlu C, Bicer C, Yazici D, et al. · · 2026 · cited 1 times (Europe PMC)

Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
Opening excerpt
BackgroundEpithelial barrier disruption is a hallmark of allergic skin diseases.
Closing excerpt
NAC and NAM effectively mitigated damages, highlighting antioxidants as preventive interventions for surfactant-induced skin barrier dysfunction.
Interpretation limits
Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (232 words)

BackgroundEpithelial barrier disruption is a hallmark of allergic skin diseases. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), a surfactant in household cleaning products, is known to impair the barrier.MethodsWe used a physiologically relevant ex vivo human skin combined with real-time electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to monitor barrier integrity after SDS exposure. Multi-omics analyses, including RNA sequencing and proximity extension-based proteomics, characterized molecular responses. Barrier permeability and oxidative stress were evaluated in primary keratinocytes, and the protective effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and nicotinamide (NAM) were assessed in both air-liquid interface keratinocyte cultures and ex vivo skins.ResultsEven a 1-min SDS exposure caused a rapid EIS decline, indicating immediate barrier compromise. 5-min exposures produced dose-dependent EIS decline with broad suppression of barrier and immune mediators (e.g., CXCL11, MCP4, and HNMT), 6-h exposure sustained skin barrier loss and associated inflammatory and remodeling programs. Proteomic signatures highlighted AREG, JUN, and ITGA6 can track skin damage, while CST5 and PRDX1 correlated with the preservation. Transcriptomics corroborated these changes, showing up-regulation of stress and repair programs-endoplasmic reticulum stress, oxidative stress, sphingolipid biosynthesis, and epidermal differentiation pathways. NAC/NAM reduced SDS-induced reactive oxygen species, cytotoxicity, and permeability in primary keratinocytes, and restored EIS values in ex vivo skin.ConclusionShort-term SDS exposure rapidly disrupts human skin barrier integrity through oxidative stress-driven suppression of structural/immune mediators and activation of stress/remodeling pathways. NAC and NAM effectively mitigated damages, highlighting antioxidants as preventive interventions for surfactant-induced skin barrier dysfunction.

Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42143604 · DOI · PMC13342777

Key reviews and meta-analyses

The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.

  • Research article The sodium lauryl sulfate model: an overview [5]
    Lee CH, Maibach HI · Contact Dermatitis · 1995 · cited 112 times (Europe PMC)
  • Research article Selectivity in capillary electrophoresis in the presence of micelles, chiral selectors and non-aqueous media [6]
    Riekkola ML, Wiedmer SK, Valkó IE, Sirén H · J Chromatogr A · 1997 · cited 62 times (Europe PMC)
  • Research article Fate and effects of the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate [7]
    Singer MM, Tjeerdema RS · Rev Environ Contam Toxicol · 1993 · cited 61 times (Europe PMC)
  • Research article Antigen retrieval in cells and tissues: enhancement with sodium dodecyl sulfate [8]
    Robinson JM, Vandré DD · Histochem Cell Biol · 2001 · cited 50 times (Europe PMC)
  • Research article Sodium lauryl sulfate, a microbicide effective against enveloped and nonenveloped viruses [9]
    Piret J, Désormeaux A, Bergeron MG · Curr Drug Targets · 2002 · cited 48 times (Europe PMC)
  • Research article CE-SDS method development, validation, and best practice-An overview [10]
    Sänger-van de Griend CE · Electrophoresis · 2019 · cited 47 times (Europe PMC)

References

  1. Khan JM, Qadeer A, Chaturvedi SK, Ahmad E, Rehman SA, Gourinath S, et al.. SDS can be utilized as an amyloid inducer: a case study on diverse proteins. . 2012. PMID 22253760 · DOI · PMC3257246
  2. Geng S, Wang Y, Wang L, Kouyama T, Gotoh T, Wada S, et al.. A Light-Responsive Self-Assembly Formed by a Cationic Azobenzene Derivative and SDS as a Drug Delivery System. . 2017. PMID 28051069 · DOI · PMC5209711
  3. Schroeder L, Ikui AE. Tryptophan confers resistance to SDS-associated cell membrane stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. . 2019. PMID 30856175 · DOI · PMC6411118
  4. Li M, Babayev H, D'Avino P, Zeyneloğlu C, Bicer C, Yazici D, et al.. Rapid Human Skin Barrier Disruption by Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate and Associated Molecular Mechanisms. . 2026. PMID 42143604 · DOI · PMC13342777
  5. Lee CH, Maibach HI. The sodium lauryl sulfate model: an overview. Contact Dermatitis. 1995. PMID 7493454 · DOI
  6. Riekkola ML, Wiedmer SK, Valkó IE, Sirén H. Selectivity in capillary electrophoresis in the presence of micelles, chiral selectors and non-aqueous media. J Chromatogr A. 1997. PMID 9463904 · DOI
  7. Singer MM, Tjeerdema RS. Fate and effects of the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate. Rev Environ Contam Toxicol. 1993. PMID 8234943 · DOI
  8. Robinson JM, Vandré DD. Antigen retrieval in cells and tissues: enhancement with sodium dodecyl sulfate. Histochem Cell Biol. 2001. PMID 11685540 · DOI
  9. Piret J, Désormeaux A, Bergeron MG. Sodium lauryl sulfate, a microbicide effective against enveloped and nonenveloped viruses. Curr Drug Targets. 2002. PMID 11899262 · DOI
  10. Sänger-van de Griend CE. CE-SDS method development, validation, and best practice-An overview. Electrophoresis. 2019. PMID 31141192 · DOI

About this article

Sources
NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
Verification
Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
Review state
automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
Version
1, last updated 2026-10-31.

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At a glance

13,339
PubMed records on this heading
6%
published since 2020
138
review articles
174
randomized trials
10
verified references below

Counts come from PubMed on 2026-10-31; they show how much has been written, not how strong the evidence is.

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