Micellization in the presence of polyelectrolyte

We present a simple model to study micellization of amphiphiles condensed o n a rod-like polyion. Although the mean field theory leads to a first order micellization transition for sufficiently strong hydrophobic interactions, the simulations show that no such thermodynamic phase transition exists. I nstead, the correlations between the condensed amphiphiles can result in a structure formation very similar to micelles. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V . All rights reserved.