Ordered arrays of self-assembled lipid tubules: fabrication and applications

Self-assembled lipid tubules with crystalline bilayer walls are supramolecular architectures that are attractive for a number of applications including drug releases, chemical sensors, nanofluidics, nanoreactors, and microelectronics. The ability to fabricate lipid tubules into ordered arrays on substrates is an important step in integrating them with functional devices. The ordered arrays of aligned lipid tubules may also lead to new applications in materials science. This feature article reviews recent developments in fabricating lipid tubules into ordered arrays on a variety of substrates. We also discuss the applications of ordered tubule arrays as templates in the synthesis of aligned and patterned silica cylinders and liquid-crystal fibers.