High performance controlled reactors from micellar assemblies of aromatic amino acid amphiphiles for nanoparticle synthesis

► Aromatic amino acid amphiphiles from tyrosine and phenylalanine show remarkable efficiency. ► The micelle templates promote polymerization of styrene under controlled conditions. ► Monodisperse dispersions of poly(styrene) nanoparticles can be produced with these systems. ► Solubilization of styrene as directed by the conformation of surfactants in micelles is proposed.