Edible supramolecular chiral nanostructures by self-assembly of an amphiphilic phytosterol conjugate

We study the self-assembly of a food-grade glucose-β-sitosterol conjugate in bulk and in solution by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The amphiphilic behavior of the glucose-β-sitosterol conjugate, combined with the chirality of both its moieties, leads in solutions to the aggregation into supramolecular chiral aggregates with plate-like, spherical and helical ribbon configurations, depending on concentration and solvent quality. Owing to the crucial role of phytosterols in replacing cholesterol content and the need for functional edible fibrils with enhanced nutritional value, this system shows great promise in the struggle for the design of new functional food building blocks with targeted properties.