Selective construction of supramolecular nanotube hosts with cationic inner surfaces

Self-assembly of an unsymmetrical bolaamphiphile produces either lipid nanotubes with cationic inner surfaces or nanotapes, depending on the initial molecular packing, which in turn depends on the solvent conditions. The nanotubes have different inner and outer surfaces, covered with amino and sugar functionalities, respectively, and effectively encapsulate anionic nanomaterials in the hollow cylinder without depending on capillary action (see Figure).