This paper studies self-assembly of b-cyclodextrin (b-CD) and tri-block pluronic (PEG–PPG–PEG) in aqueous solution. It was found that they could form hollow spheres due to the formation of coil–rod b-CD/ PEG–PPG–PEG inclusion complexes. In these b-CD/PEG–PPG–PEG complexes, the b-CDs are preferentially stacked along the PPG block of pluronic to form rod block and PEG segments act as coil block. The assemblies of b-CD/PEG–PPG–PEG complexes show dependence of b-CDs concentration and temperature. Furthermore,
the aggregates will disrupt upon dilution below the critical micelle concentration.