REVERSE MICELLES AS MICROREACTORS

In this paper an extensive introduction to reverse micellar properties is given. It is shown that reverse micelles can be used as microreactors to produce either well-defined nanosized crystallites or chemically modified enzymes. Solubilization of macromolecules induces either the gelation of droplets or a percolation process followed by a phase transition. In the latter case this could favor the extraction of product reactions catalyzed by enzymes. Finally, a summary gives some prospective aspects of the use of such water-in-oil droplets.