A novel composite: layered double hydroxides encapsulated in vesicles

We report a novel composite: layered double hydroxides (LDHs) encapsulated in vesicles. It was found that positively charged Mg3Al-LDH nanoparticles can induce the spontaneous formation of vesicles in a mixture of a zwitterionic surfactant, dodecyl betaine (C12BE), and an anionic surfactant, sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT), and importantly, we obtain simultaneously a novel composite of Mg3Al-LDH encapsulated in vesicles. The obtained composite is very stable and expected to be potentially used in drug delivery and gene therapy.