The dendritic building blocks with a focal pyrene unit self-organize into vesicles in aqueous phase. The in situ inclusion of the focal pyrene units into the cavity of ␤-or ␥-cyclodextrin (CD) induces self-assembled organic nanotubes with an average outer diameter of Ϸ45 nm and inner diameter of 22 nm. The surface of the nanotube is covered with CD. Therefore, the functional group on the surface of the nanotube is controlled simply by modifying the functionality of CD. The removal of CD from the nanotube with poly(propylene glycol) reversibly generates vesicles. This work provides an efficient methodology not only to create an additional class of CD-covered organic nanotubes but also to exhibit reversible transformation of nanotubes and vesicles triggered by the motifs of dendron self-assembly, CD inclusion, and pseudorotaxane formation.vesicle ͉ amphiphile S elf-assembly and transformation of biological or synthetic macromolecules in a wide range of scientific fields are crucial subjects for the achievement of well defined nanostructures and the precise control of the function of supramolecules at the molecular level (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14). A multitude of biological or chemical assemblies including vesicle, tubule, fibril, and viral helical coats perform numerous biochemical operations in nature. In particular, vesicular and tubular assemblies are of much interest because of their unique characteristics as a biomimetic system, carrier for drug or gene, biochemical sensor, electronic or photonic material, nanoreactor, and template for hybrid structure (9-18). Therefore, in these viewpoints, self-assembly of synthetic building blocks by noncovalent interactions is expected to provide a unique methodology for creating supramolecular functional materials (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27).Self-organization of dendrons (6) into supramolecular assemblies has been demonstrated in a thermotropic fashion (19,27), in aqueous phase (21-25), in organic media (20,22,23,26), and at solid-liquid interface (26). Recently, we reported that the amide dendrons can self-organize in various conditions to exhibit a multiplicity of architectures and functions (22-26). For the preparation of self-assembling nanomaterials, we designed the amide dendritic building blocks consisting of amide branches for hydrogen bonding, carboxyl functionality at the focal point, and alkyl tails for the stabilization of assembled structures by van der Waals interaction (22). Particularly, it was suggested that the dimeric form of the amide dendron, induced by secondary interactions such as hydrogen bonding and -interaction at the focal functional units, is the primary building block in the self-aggregation process in organic media (22,23,26). In addition, the amphiphilic nature of these amide dendritic building blocks provides an opportunity for the formation of various self-assembled nanostructures in aqueous phase. For example, we reported that the transition of the self-organiz...

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A polymerizable methacryl unit was introduced at the focal moiety of the amide dendrons which have amide branches and alkyl periphery. Their dendronized polymers were also prepared by the radical polymerization of the methacryl units. The self-organization characteristics of dendrons and dendronized polymers were then investigated in both the organic and aqueous phases. The amide dendrons (1M and 2M) in which the focal carboxyl group was blocked with methacryl units did not form gel in organic media such as chloroform or THF, whereas amide dendrons with a free carboxyl group at the focal point form self-organized structures. In the aqueous phase, 1M and 2M formed spherical vesicular assemblies. The dendronized polymers with first and second generation dendrons, 1P and 2P, respectively, exhibited lamellar and columnar organization in toluene. In addition to hydrogen bonding between the dendritic amide branches and van der Waals interactions between the alkyl periphery, steric confinement of dendritic side groups along the polymer backbone played a key role in the packing process of the dendronized polymers. In aqueous phase, 1P and 2P showed spherical vesicular aggregates with persistent stability in the presence of Triton X-100.