Molecular recognition with micellar and micelle-like aggregates in aqueous media

In this article, attention is directed to molecular recognition by micellar aggregates made with ionic surfactants involving directed interactions of substrates. Particular emphasis is placed on chiral recognition of enantiomers by hydrogen bonding functionalities incorporated in hydrophobic micellar interior. Hydrophobic properties within micelles, the ordering of their polar headgroups containing chiral functionalities essential for the recognition and the cessation of micellar kinetic association-dissociation with polymerization and immobilization of the surfactants on the support are discussed.