An Overview Of Methodology For Predicting Activities And Functionalities Of A Wide Range Of Carbohydrate- Based Surfactants From Their Fundamental Properties

Introduction and Background: Carbohydrate-based surfactants (CBS) are, today, among the most attractive amphiphilic compounds owing to their high potentiality for a large product concept. The main fundamental reasons are the abundance of their precursors from renewable resources, the excellent environmental compatibility, and the quasi-unlimited availability of their molecular structure and geometry. Based on the latter aspect, CBS would be expected to generate a wide range of functionalities and activities for food and non-food applications. All kinds of amphiphilic
compounds including small surfactants, bolaforms, geminis, oligomeric, and polymeric molecules with a single or a multiple hydrophobic tails can be designed by synthetic routes thanks to a large number of reactive chemical groups in their basic structure. Consequently, various methodologies are required, and could be used in complementary for identifying all of their potentiality for further development.
Methodology: The methodology is based on the characterization in the laboratory scale, i.e. using only small amounts of sample, of CBS properties at fluid and solid interfaces, in bulk liquid phases, and at the solid state with simplified models.
Results and Discussion: In this communication, an overview of functionality and activity-predicting methods for a wide range of CBS structures varying in head polar groups, hydrophobic tail and number, and linkers will be presented and discussed. Performances and complementarities of different approaches, methodologies, and techniques will be emphasized. These include sample preparation and analysis procedures, interfacial-characterizing instruments, mainly tensiometers and Langmuir balances used both in dynamic and (quasi)-static modes, particle size and electrical charge analyser, and (micro)calorimeters using differential scanning, isothermal titration, and thermogravimetry methods.
Conclusion: The knowledge of these basic properties is helpful for predicting their main activities and functionalities like their aptitude for forming and stabilizing colloidal systems, and for developing biological activities. This is also necessary for the rational design of CBS amphiphilic structure regarding to specific properties. The same approach can also be applied for other required features as the compound stability, toxicity, and biodegradability.