Tailoring micelle shape via solvent interactions in deep eutectic solvents

The manipulation of micelle morphology is key to exploiting surfactants in applications from formulation of creams and gels for drug delivery to templating of mesoporous materials. Novel deep eutectic solvents (DES) are now being investigated as solvents for materials synthesis and as drug delivery systems since their components frequently include species which can enhance skin penetration. We are therefore investigating methods for altering micelle morphologies in these green solvents, which are less toxic than typical ionic liquids, but share their tuneable physicochemical properties. Here we propose to study the effects of a DES component that can potentially have both electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions with cationic micelles, to determine whether micelle elongation can extend to formation of wormlike micelles in these solutions.