Self-assembly in escin-nonionic surfactant mixtures: From micelles to vesicles

Hypothesis: Saponins are a class of plant derived surfactants which are widely used in food related foams and emulsions, aerated drinks, and in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. As a potential biosourced and renewable ingredient in a wider range of surfactant based formulations their potential is intimately associated with their mixing with synthetic surfactants. As such the nature of the mixed saponin-surfactant self-assembly is an important characteristic to investigate and understand. The unconventional structure of the saponins compared to the conventional synthetic surfactants poses some interesting constraints on the structures of the mixed aggregates.