. "The alkyl polysaccharide derivatives are of the formula (I): R.sup.1 --(OG).sub.n (X).sub.m, where R.sup.1 is hydrogen or a hydrophobic moiety; G is a saccahride residue; and X is a succinic anhydride residue; and n and m are independently chosen from an average value which is between 1 and 200." . . .