Selective Vesicle Formation from Calixarenes by Self-Assembly

Amphiphilic polyhydroxy macrocycles self-assemble in water to form vesicles selectively. These vesicles are uniform in size (50–200 nm; see representation) and stable both in aqueous solution and in dried form. The selective mode of aggregation can be correlated with structural characteristics of the phenolic amphiphiles, in particular, the macrocyclic moiety and intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the phenolic OH groups.