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Micelles

Micelles

Micelle formation is an intricate process that hinges on the properties of amphiphilic or amphipathic molecules and the conditions of the system in which they are found. Amphiphilic molecules, which have both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) parts, play a critical role in this process.In aqueous environments, these molecules arrange themselves such that their hydrophilic heads are turned towards the water phase, while their hydrophobic tails are oriented away...

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Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Fabrication of Spherical and Worm-shaped Micellar Nanocrystals by Combining Electrospray, Self-assembly, and Solvent-based Structure Control

Fabrication of Spherical and Worm-shaped Micellar Nanocrystals by Combining Electrospray, Self-assembly, and Solvent-based Structure Control

Published on: February 11, 2018

A 3-D hexagonal inverse micellar lyotropic phase.

Gemma C Shearman¹, Arwen I I Tyler, Nicholas J Brooks

¹Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Centre, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.

Journal of the American Chemical Society

|January 17, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Scientists discovered a new lyotropic liquid crystalline phase, the first in 20 years. This unique structure, a 3-D hexagonal close-packed arrangement of inverse micelles, has implications for drug and gene delivery systems.

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Area of Science:

Biophysics
Materials Science
Supramolecular Chemistry

Background:

Lipids in cell membranes self-assemble into various structures in water.
These liquid-crystalline phases, including inverse micelles, are crucial in biological systems and drug delivery.
Previous discoveries of new lyotropic phases have been infrequent.

Purpose of the Study:

To report the discovery of a novel lyotropic liquid crystalline phase.
To characterize the unique structure of this new phase.
To highlight its potential applications in advanced delivery systems.

Main Methods:

Investigation of lipid-water self-assembly under varying conditions.
Structural elucidation using advanced characterization techniques (e.g., X-ray scattering).
Crystallographic analysis to determine the space group and arrangement of the phase.

Main Results:

A new lyotropic liquid crystalline phase was identified.
The phase exhibits a 3-D hexagonal close-packed arrangement of inverse micelles.
The space group was determined as P6(3)/mmc, a unique configuration for inverse micelles.
This is the first new inverse lyotropic phase discovered in twenty years.

Conclusions:

The discovery represents a significant advancement in understanding lipid self-assembly.
This novel phase offers a unique platform for developing sophisticated drug and gene delivery vehicles.
Its structure, a close packing of identical inverse micelles, is unprecedented among known lyotropic phases.