Self-assembly of alkyl–perylenebisdiimide–DNA amphiphiles and control of their morphology through cyclodextrin-based host–guest interaction

Abstract

Amphiphilic alkyl–perylenebisdiimide–DNA hybrids self-assemble into spherical micelles and transform into nanofibers upon the addition of β-cyclodextrins due to host–guest interaction. A competitive guest can induce the nanofibers to reversibly change back to spherical micelles. Both spherical micelles and nanofibers can anchor functional molecules at the corona through DNA hybridization.