SUPRA-SELF ASSEMBLY - VESICLE MICELLE EQUILIBRIUM

Double-chain quaternary ammonium salts with hydroxide or carboxylates as counter-ions are soluble in water up to high concentrations. The single clear phase which forms is known to comprise a mixture of vesicles and micelles. The nature of the hydroxide aggregates is explored quantitatively by classical and dynamic light scattering as well as electron microscopy. It is shown that these solutions self-assemble into dilute monodisperse unilamellar vesicles in equilibrium with micelles. The experimental data are explained in terms of a model in which all of the micelles are confined to the interior of the vesicles, indicating the existence of a supra-self assembly mechanism. © 1990.