Sophorolipids (a natural surfactant) actually prevent beta-glucan from clumping together in solutions, whereas common synthetic surfactants like SDS do the opposite. The sophorolipids achieved this through hydrophobic interactions without damaging beta-glucan's structure—potentially making them better at disrupting the biofilm communities that fuel acne, eczema, and rosacea.

Researchers mixed sophorolipids with beta-glucan in water and tracked what happened using light scattering, surface tension measurements, and heat-based interaction tests. They compared the results to standard synthetic surfactants to see which performed better.

Funding not disclosed in abstract