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Updated: Feb 16, 2026

Self-Assembly of Microtubule Tactoids
Published on: June 23, 2022
Liquid crystalline tactoids: ordered structure, defective coalescence and evolution in confined geometries
Pei-Xi Wang1, Mark J MacLachlan2
1Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z1.
Abstract:
Tactoids are liquid crystalline microdroplets that spontaneously nucleate from isotropic dispersions, and transform into macroscopic anisotropic phases. These intermediate structures have been found in a range of molecular, polymeric and colloidal liquid crystals. Typically only studied by polarized optical microscopy, these ordered but easily deformable microdroplets are now emerging as interesting components for structural investigations and developing new materials. In this review, we highlight the structure, property and transformation of tactoids in different compositions, but especially cellulose nanocrystals. We have selected references that illustrate the diversity and most exciting developments in tactoid research, while capturing the historical development of this field.This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'New horizons for cellulose nanotechnology'.
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