# Influence of Sugar Headgroup on the Self-Assembly of Bioinspired Anionic Glycolipids

## TL;DR

This study explores how sugar headgroups affect the self-assembly of anionic glycolipids into micelles.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is the detailed thermodynamic and structural analysis of micellization influenced by sugar headgroup chemistry.

## Key findings

- The CMC is strongly influenced by the hydrophilicity of sugar headgroups.
- SAXS data shows ellipsoidal micelles with size and distortion affected by headgroup structure.
- Micellization is driven by a balance of enthalpic and entropic contributions influenced by sugar ring architecture.

## Abstract

In this study, we investigated the micellization of bioinspired
anionic glycolipids with distinct headgroups (xylose, rhamnose, and
galactose) using surface tension, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS),
and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) measurements across a range
of temperatures. Surface and interfacial analyses revealed that their
critical micelle concentration (CMC) is strongly influenced by the
hydrophilicity of their sugar headgroups. SAXS data demonstrated that
the aggregates are ellipsoidal micelles, with size and distortion
influenced by their headgroup structure. Thermodynamic analyses indicate
that micellization is driven by a delicate balance between enthalpic
and entropic contributions, both being significantly affected by the
sugar ring architecture, particularly the nature of the substituent
at the C5 position. These findings show that the chemical features
of the headgroup strongly influence the aggregate structure and micellization
energetics of ionic glycolipids, providing relevant molecular-level
insights for the rational design of new bioinspired amphiphiles.