The Fos-Choline detergents have been successfully used in membrane protein studies by NMR. Short chain phospholipids such as dihexanoylphosphatidylcholine (DHPC), have been used to solubilize and reconstitute integral membrane proteins. These compounds form water-soluble micelles in solution and have been shown to maintain native protein structure and function when used in membrane protein purification protocols.

Fos-Cholines employ charged amine and phosphate groups in combination with an alkyl chain to produce a zwitterionic surfactant. This unique architecture is water-soluble and capable of both stabilizing and keeping membrane proteins soluble in aqueous solutions. This surfactant also produces micelles and is able to extract membrane proteins from cellular membranes.