Carbohydrate Research (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.carres.2026.109943"> Graphical abstract. Credit: Carbohydrate Research (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.carres.2026.109943

Sugar-based amphiphilic molecules, which contain a hydrophilic sugar headgroup and a hydrophobic segment such as an alkyl chain, can assemble in water depending on their concentration, forming hydrophobic microenvironments or organizing at interfaces. These properties are important fundamental phenomena related to detergents, emulsifiers, molecular assemblies, and the dispersion and delivery of drugs and functional molecules.

However, how subtle changes in molecular structure affect aggregation and interfacial behavior remains incompletely understood.…