Stable vesicles assembled by “supramolecular amphiphiles” with double hydrophobic chains

Methylated β-cyclodextrin and a class of phthalate esters were found to be able to form “supramolecular amphiphiles” with double-chains in aqueous solution and could further assemble into stable vesicles under variable conditions. The vesicles were fully characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and Cryo-transmission electron microscopy (Cryo-TEM). The mechanism of the vesicle-formation was suggested based on the UV–vis spectrum, 1H NMR, 2D NMR NOESY, FT-IR spectrum and X-ray diffraction (XRD) results and further simulated by molecular dynamic simulation. The vesicles’ responses to the stimuli were also studied.