Supramolecular design of CO 2 -responsive lipid nanomaterials.

Depending on the composition, OAm is discovered to self-assemble into a variety of CO-responsive lyotropic liquid crystalline structures that can be dispersed in excess water. CO-triggered colloidal transformations from unstructured OAm-in-water emulsions to direct micelles; dispersed inverse hexagonal phase to direct rod-like micelles, and sponge phase to vesicles are discovered. These structural changes are driven by the reaction of OAm's amidine headgroup with CO. The results provide a fundamental understanding of CO-triggered functional nanomaterials and may guide their future design into delivery platforms and biosensors.