Used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations as an emulsifier and stabilizer due to its ability to form stable oil-in-water emulsions. Commonly found in topical creams and ointments to enhance skin penetration of active ingredients. Also utilized in drug delivery systems, particularly in the formation of lipid-based nanostructures like cubosomes, which improve the solubility and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. Plays a role in structural biology for membrane protein crystallization by mimicking lipid bilayer environments.