If the surfaces of vesicles are chemically modified so that they can be dispersed in organic solvents, the application of vesicular colloids may be expanded. A polymerizable surfactant (BDAC) and nonpolymerizable bipolar surfactant (BPAS) were synthesized in multi-steps. Large vesicles composed of BDAC and BPAS with embedded a cross-linking agent (divinylbenzene) underwent a radical polymerization. BPAS was extracted out using methanol (skeletonization). The headgroup of BDAC was cleaved off via hydrolysis in an acidic condition to yield vesicles where surfaces were covered with -COOH groups. There was no significant change in the overall shape. The skeletonized vesicles appear to have many holes with diameters up to about 25 nm. The holes retained even after hydrolysis. The hydrolyzed vesicles were not dispersed in water and most organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran and chloroform, but dispersed in methanol.
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