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Updated: May 29, 2026

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water
Published on: August 2, 2012
Bolaform superamphiphile based on a dynamic covalent bond and its self-assembly in water
Guangtong Wang1, Chao Wang, Zhiqiang Wang
1Key Lab of Organic Optoelectronics and Molecular Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China.
Abstract:
We have employed a dynamic covalent bond to fabricate a bolaform superamphiphile, which can be used as building blocks for controlled assembly and disassembly. In alkaline environment, one building block bearing a benzoic aldehyde group can react with the other building block bearing an amino group to form a bolaform superamphiphile. It is found that the bolaform superamphiphiles can self-assemble in water to form micellar aggregates. When the pH is tuned down to slightly acidic values, the benzoic imine bond can be hydrolyzed, leading to the dissociation of the superamphiphile. The micellar aggregates will also disassemble, and the loaded guest molecules are released subsequently. This line of research has enriched the family of bolaform amphiphiles, and the resulting assemblies may find application in the field of controlled and targetable drug-delivery in a biological environment.
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