Sodium lauryl sulfate is an anionic surfactant used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals as a fat emulsifier, wetting agent, and detergent. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is an anionic surfactant naturally derived from coconut and/or palm kernel oil.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed
Like other surfactants, SLS is amphiphilic. It thus migrates to the surface of liquids, where its alignment and aggregation with other SLS molecules lowers the surface tension. This allows for easier spreading and mixing of the liquid. SLS has potent protein denaturing activity and inhibits the infectivity of viruses by by solubilizing the viral envelope and/or by denaturing envelope and/or capsid proteins.
- Primary indication
- SLS is used as a surfactant in shampoos and toothpastes.Curator reviewed
- Formula / weight
- C12H25NaO4S · 288.379 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 2007
- Also known as
- NaDS · Sodium dodecyl sulfate · Sodium dodecyl sulphate · Sodium dodecylsulfate · Sodium laurilsulfate
- Code names
- Caswell No. 779 · Rhodapon SB 8208S
Resolves to
DBMJMQXJHONAFJ-UHFFFAOYSA-MSMILES[Na+].CCCCCCCCCCCCOS([O-])(=O)=OWhat you can answer from here — as of September 12, 2026
Which drugs share a target with Sodium lauryl sulfate, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
Create a free account or log in to explore the full data card.
Create Account