Understanding solubilisation using principles of surfactant self-assembly as geometrical constraints

Our aim is to give a short introduction of the use of phase diagrams in order to rationalise general principles of surfactant self-assembly. These can be rationalised in terms of geometrical constraints: volume, surface and curvature. Binary (two components: surfactant and water) and ternary systems (surfactants, water, oil) are considered separately: Models for solubilisation, to be understood within the general principles and not as tabulated data, are presented. Finally, some examples of application of solubilisation in formulation are given.