Synthesis and micellar mimic properties of bile acid trimers

Two fan-shaped bile acid trimers have been synthesized via CuI-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) 'click chemistry', and their extraction experiments of cresol red sodium (CR) and pyrene were investigated in the polar and non-polar solvents, respectively. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results showed that the homogenous hollow capsules formed with the diameter size range of 40-70 nm in a solution of water and acetone. Thus the amphiphilicity of fan-shaped bile acid trimers might be used as the promising candidate in biological and drug delivery applications.