Supramolecular assembly of a succinyl-calix[4]arene derivative in multilamellar vesicles

Amphiphilic calixarenes are interesting building blocks with high propensity to assemble in well-​defined supramol. architectures. In this work, we report that a succinyl-​calix[4]​arene deriv. ()​, exposing four terminal carboxylic acid groups at the calixarene upper rim and four dodecyl chains at the lower rim, forms discrete and stable nanoaggregates in aq. medium. Field-​emission SEM and transmission electron microscopy images showed that the aggregates of possess a spherical shape and a vesicular structure with a multilamellar wall. The vesicular nature was confirmed by encapsulation of a hydrophilic dye rhodamine B. A preliminary study also evidenced that compd. increases water soly. of a hydrophobic drug such as curcumin.