Glycerolipid arginine-based surfactants: synthesis and surface active properties

Abstract

The research on biomimetic surfactants is currently increasing given the biocompatibility of the natural systems. Amino acid-glycerolipid conjugates combine in one molecule the chemical, physicochemical and biological properties of the diacyl glycerides and those of the polar amino acid components. A novel class of environmentally friendly surfactants have been synthesised and their surface active properties in aqueous solution evaluated. Symmetrical 1,2-diacylgycerol-3-arginine ester homologues with 8, 10, 12, and 14 carbon atoms in the alkyl chains were prepared by chemical methodologies at lab scale. All final compounds were purified up to 99% by HPLC and characterised by standard spectroscopic procedures. Basic physicochemical properties such as adsorption and self-aggregation in water/surfactant binary systems are reported.