The present invention provides photo-cleavable anionic surfactants, particularly 4-hexylphenylazosulfonate (Azo) and sodium 4-hexylphenylazosulfonate derivatives, which can be rapidly degraded upon UV irradiation, for top-down and bottom-up proteomics. These surfactants can effectively solubilize proteins and peptide fragments with performance comparable to sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and are compatible with mass spectrometry analysis of the solubilized proteins and peptide fragments. Top-down proteomic studies using the present photo-cleavable anionic surfactants has allowed the detection of 100-fold more unique proteoforms as compared to controls and has enabled the solubilization of membrane proteins for comprehensive characterization of protein post-translational modifications. In addition, the present photo-cleavable anionic surfactants are also suitable for dissolving polypeptides in bottom-up proteomic experiments including extracellular matrix proteomics, and are suitable as a substitute for SDS in gel electrophoresis.

A surfactant of formula (I)

##STR00001##

wherein each of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently a hydrogen, an optionally substituted alkyl, an optionally substituted cycloalkyl, or an optionally substituted arylalkyl, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are independently an optionally substituted alkyl, an optionally substituted cycloalkyl, or an optionally substituted arylalkyl, x is an integer in a range of 2-8, y is an integer in a range of 1-15, z is an integer in a range of 4-10, n is an integer in a range of 2-5, and A is one of a carboxybetaine group, a sulfobetaine group, or a hydroxy sulfobetaine group. An oil and gas well servicing fluid containing the surfactant and methods of servicing an oil and gas well are also described.

The present invention relates to amino- or ammonium-containing sulfonic acid, phosphonic acid and carboxylic acid derivatives, in particular the compounds of formula 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, and their medical use, including their use in the treatment, prevention or amelioration of an inflammatory, autoimmune and/or allergic disorder. ##STR00001##

The present invention relates to amino- or ammonium-containing sulfonic acid, phosphonic acid and carboxylic acid derivatives, in particular the compounds of formula 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, and their medical use, including their use in the treatment, prevention or amelioration of an inflammatory, autoimmune and/or allergic disorder. ##STR00001##

The present disclosure provides one or more amino lipids such as an amino lipids containing a sulfonic acid or sulfonic acid derivative of the formulas: ##STR00001##
wherein the variables are as defined herein. These amino lipids may be used in compositions with one or more helper lipids and a nucleic acid therapeutic agent. These compositions may be used to treat a disease or disorder such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, or other genetic diseases.

The present disclosure provides one or more amino lipids such as an amino lipids containing a sulfonic acid or sulfonic acid derivative of the formulas: ##STR00001##
wherein the variables are as defined herein. These amino lipids may be used in compositions with one or more helper lipids and a nucleic acid therapeutic agent. These compositions may be used to treat a disease or disorder such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, or other genetic diseases.

There is disclosed a process for producing taurine in a molar yield of at least 80% from alkali isethionate, alkali ditaurinate, or alkali tritaurinate by adding excess ammonia and at least of equal molar amount of an alkali hydroxide to a solution comprised of alkali ditaurinate, alkali tritaurinate, or their mixture and subjecting the solution to an ammonolysis to yield a solution comprised of alkali taurinate.

There is disclosed a process for producing taurine in a molar yield of at least 80% from alkali isethionate, alkali ditaurinate, or alkali tritaurinate by adding excess ammonia and at least of equal molar amount of an alkali hydroxide to a solution comprised of alkali ditaurinate, alkali tritaurinate, or their mixture and subjecting the solution to an ammonolysis to yield a solution comprised of alkali taurinate.

There is disclosed a process for producing taurine in a molar yield of at least 80% from alkali isethionate, alkali ditaurinate, or alkali tritaurinate by adding excess ammonia and at least of equal molar amount of an alkali hydroxide to a solution comprised of alkali ditaurinate, alkali tritaurinate, or their mixture and subjecting the solution to an ammonolysis to yield a solution comprised of alkali taurinate.

The present disclosure provides one or more amino lipids such as an amino lipids containing a sulfonic acid or sulfonic acid derivative of the formulas:

##STR00001##

wherein the variables are as defined herein. These amino lipids may be used in compositions with one or more helper lipids and a nucleic acid therapeutic agent. These compositions may be used to treat a disease or disorder such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, or other genetic diseases.