Non-ionic Surfactants

Non-ionic surfactants, consisting of a hydrophilic head group and a hydrophobic tail, carry no charge and are relatively non-toxic. The hydrophobic moiety of the surfactant may be alkyl (T), fluoroalkyl, or steroidal in nature. A wide variety of hydrophilic head groups are available in vesicle-forming surfactants. There are various types of non-ionic surfactants, such as polyglycerol alkyl ethers, glucosyl dialkyl ethers, crownethers, ester-linked surfactants, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, Brij, Spans (sorbitan esters) and Tweens (Polysorbates).