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The controlled secondary self-assembly of amphiphilic molecules in solution is theoretically and practically significant in amphiphilic molecular applications. An amphiphilic β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) dimer, namely LA-(CD)2, has been synthesized, wherein one lithocholic acid (LA) unit is hydrophobic and two β-CD units are hydrophilic. In an aqueous solution at room temperature, LA-(CD)2 self-assembles into spherical micelles without ultrasonication. The primary micelles dissociates and then secondarily form self-assemblies with branched structures under ultrasonication. The branched aggregates revert to primary micelles at high temperature. The ultrasound-driven secondary self-assembly is confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, 1H NMR spectroscopy, and Cu2+-responsive experiments. Furthermore, 2D NOESY NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopy results indicate that the formation of the primary micelles is driven by hydrophilic-hydrophobic interactions, whereas host-guest interactions promote the formation of the secondary assemblies. Additionally, ultrasonication is shown to be able to effectively destroy the primary hydrophilic-hydrophobic balances while enhancing the host-guest interaction between the LA and β-CD moieties at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuning of the morphology and sizeof supramolecular self-assembliesis of theoretical and practical significance. To date, supramoleculardriving forces in different solvents remain unclear. In this study,we first synthesized an amphiphilic β-cyclodextrin (β-CD)dimer that consists of one hydrophobic ibuprofen (Ibu) and two hydrophilicβ-CD moieties (i.e., Ibu-CD2). Ibu-CD2possesses double supramolecular driving forces, namely, the host–guestrecognition and hydrophilic–hydrophobic interaction. The host–guestinteraction of Ibu-CD2induced the formation of branchedsupramolecular polymers (SPs) in pure water, whereas the hydrophilic–hydrophobicinteraction generated spherical or irregular micelles in water/organicmixtures. The SP size increased with the increase in Ibu-CD2concentration in pure water. By contrast, the size of micelles decreasedwith the increase in volume ratio of water in mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]