Vesicles in Supramolecular Chemistry

Abstract

Vesicles are self‐assembled nanoscale capsules consisting of a molecular layer enclosing an inner solvent compartment. Vesicles have been a versatile topic in supramolecular chemistry ever since the discovery that, besides phospholipids, also synthetic amphiphiles can form vesicles in aqueous solution. Vesicles are highly dynamic supramolecular structures that have been subject of investigation by many chemists over the last three decades. In particular, the range of building blocks for vesicles has expanded from “conventional” (i.e., phospholipid‐like) amphiphiles to block copolymers, giant amphiphiles, and supramolecular amphiphiles. Increasingly, vesicles are also assembled from nonconventional (i.e., non‐amphiphilic) components in aqueous as well as organic solvents. Vesicles can be tailor‐made to respond to external stimuli. Vesicles are also highly interesting biomimetic structures: molecular recognition of vesicles is a powerful model system for molecular recognition of biological membranes.

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