Synthetic glycolipid/water systems

Glycolipids are a relatively new class of amphiphiles in the colloid and interface science field and progressively gaining importance both technically and scientifically. The understandings of the liquid crystalline phases of the industrially important alkylpolyglycoside/water systems have been considerably advanced. It has been recognized that most of the synthetic glycolipids have high a Krafft temperature T_K and are difficult to handle. A new series of glycolipids that overcome this difficulty have recently been developed. The new glycolipids have greater control of their liquid crystalline phases and open up a versatile opportunity for exploiting the glycolipid liquid crystalline phases. Recent measurements of the interaction potential between non-ionic ‘glycolipid surfaces’ appear to explain unique the features of the glycolipid liquid crystalline phases.