Abstract
This study deals with the ionically-driven self-assembly of oligomeric aminosilicones, judiciously protonated with a variety of organic acids. Depending on the length of the silicone and the strength of the associated acids, (inverse) water-in-silicone emulsions, small nanoparticles or catanionic vesicles were prepared and characterized by conventional (TEM) or original (DIC optical microscopy, DOSY NMR) techniques. For chains 5 longer than about 40 units, a specific PEG-based sulfonic acid was synthesized and used in a view to generate a supramolecular blocky-like copolymer and ensure fast and efficient emulsification. In all instances, a simple impulse such as pH rising allows to phase-separate the colloidal objects.