The sphere-to-rod transition of squaraine-embedded micelles: a self-assembly platform displays a distinct response to cysteine and homocysteine

A simple self-assembly platform based on squaraine-embedded CTAB micelles can readily discriminate between Cys and Hcy with different absorption and fluorescence signals. The recognition mechanism is attributed to the fact that analyte adducts trigger the CTAB micelles to undergo sphere-to-rod transition.