Controllable self-assemblies of β-cyclodextrin-calix[4]arene couples

Amphiphilic cyclodextrin-calixarene conjugates 1 and 2 were synthesized from click chemistry, and their self-assembly behaviors were investigated by transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The results obtained show that 1 and 2 can self-assemble to form distinctly different aggregations, and the morphology of aggregations critically relies on the polarity and hydrophilicity of the solvent.