journal article·2025-07Open access

Simple Preparation of Sophisticated Multiresponsive Core‐Crystalline Micelles via an Approach Reminiscent of the Division of Labor in Microorganisms

Jiantian Zhao, Fei Qi, Lina Li, Jingjie Jiang, Shixing Lei, Yue Du, Qing Yu, Lin Jiaping, Mitchell A. Winnik, Gerald Guerin

Small Structures· Volume 6· Issue 7

Abstract

Division of labor, where two identical cells differentiate to carry out distinctive function, represents a major development in evolution. Despite obvious advantages, such behavior remains elusive in supramolecular assembly, due to the difficulty to force a population of identical building blocks to spontaneously split and perform different tasks as they assemble. Here, this differentiation is achieved using a crystallization‐driven self‐assembly approach. A seeded growth on a suspension of aggregated seed crystallites is performed and nanoflower‐like mesostructures with 3D central sections surrounded by rays of 2D petals are prepared. This morphological divergence brings remarkably distinct responses to specific stimuli: high‐temperature annealing induces the formation of hollow petals, while, astonishingly, a simple solvent transfer leads to the perforation of their thick central sections, without affecting their overall morphological integrity. This work demonstrates how an artificial division of labor can be promoted to fabricate highly complex structures via supramolecular self‐assembly.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Mesoporous Materials and Catalysis · Surfactants and Colloidal Systems · Iron oxide chemistry and applications

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Shanghai Key Laboratory of Advanced Polymeric Materials Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education School of Materials Science and Engineering East China University of Science and Technology Shanghai 200237 China

Department of Chemistry University of Toronto 80 St. George Street Toronto ON M5S 3H6 Canada

Department of Chemistry University of Victoria Victoria BC V8P 5C2 Canada

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