Micelle
Micelle: Particle of colloidal dimensions that exists in equilibrium with the molecules or ions in solution from which it is formed.
Note: Based on definition in ref.
Micelle : Organized auto-assembly formed in a liquid and composed of amphiphilic
macromolecules, in general amphiphilic di- or tri-block copolymers made of solvophilic and solvophobic blocks.
Note 1: An amphiphilic behavior can be observed for water and an organic solvent or between two organic solvents.
Note 2: Polymeric micelles have a much lower critical micellar concentration than soap or surfactant micelles, but are nevertheless at equilibrium with isolated macromolecules called unimers. Therefore, micelle formation and stability are concentration-dependent. A
micelle or
micella is an aggregate of surfactant molecules dispersed in a liquid colloid. A typical micelle in aqueous solution forms an aggregate with the hydrophilic "head" regions in contact with surrounding solvent, sequestering the hydrophobic single-tail regions in the micelle centre. This phase is caused by the packing behavior of single-tail lipids in a bilayer.