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AAT Bioquest

How do micelles form?

Posted August 22, 2024


Answer

Micelles form when amphipathic molecules, which have both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) regions, interact in an aqueous solution. 

In an aqueous environment, the hydrophilic outer parts of amphipathic molecules stay in contact with the water, while the hydrophobic inner regions cluster together to minimize their contact and interaction with water.

This interaction results in the formation of micelles, where the hydrophilic head groups form the outer shell, interacting with the water, and the hydrophobic tails are sequestered inside, away from the water. 

 Micelles are dynamic structures that continuously form and dissociate. The formation and dissociation rates of micelles depend on the balance of several forces including electrostatic interactions between the hydrophilic regions, the hydrophobic interactions among the amphipathic molecules, and the randomness or entropy of the system. 

Additional resources

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