Liquid Crystal Formation Research Articles

Reaction field induction self-amplification optical activity during polymerization in liquid crystal

A monomer having both chiral induction from nematic liquid crystal (LC) to cholesteric LC and polymerization activity was prepared. Addition of the compound to nematic LC induced the formation of a cholesteric liquid crystal in its chiral form. Subsequent electrochemical polymerization of the monomer produced an optically active polymer with a helical structure as confirmed by circular dichroism (CD) and optical rotatory dispersion measurements. While, the addition of the chiral monomer to an isotropic non-LC solution, and subsequent polymerization resulted a product with no clear optical activity. These results suggest that polymerization of the monomer in a cholesteric environment allows the formation of a polymer with high optical activity. Morphological imprinting from the matrix LC was confirmed by surface observation through polarizing optical microscopy. The chiral monomer changes the surrounding environment to grow into a more highly ordered helical structure. The matrix LC as the environment amplifies the optical activity with helical growth of the monomer during polymerization.

Ti3C2Tx MXene Liquid Crystal: Access to Create Background-Free and Easy-Made Alignment Medium.

The formation of lyotropic liquid crystals (LCs) in two-dimensional (2D) colloidal dispersions enables the production of mesoscopic/macroscopic ordered materials from nanoscale building blocks. In contrast to graphene oxide (GO) LCs, the practical applications of MXene LCs are less exploited. This study bridges the gap by utilizing a simple and versatile fabrication method to prepare Ti3C2Tx MXene LC that can be applied as a background-free alignment medium for the residual dipolar coupling (RDC) measurement of organic molecules. Ti3C2Tx LC displays the size- and concentration-dependent alignment degree. Ti3C2Tx nanoflakes with an average size of around 600 nm can provide the quadrupolar 2H splitting of 71 Hz at a concentration of 50 mg/mL and show excellent fluidity at such a high concentration. Compared with other alignment media, Ti3C2Tx LC exhibits the features of no-background and narrow line broadening, which actualizes the acquirement of clean and high-quality NMR spectra for the accurate RDC extraction. Notably, the alignment of LCs is determined to be maintainable in the redispersed solution after freeze-drying, providing the great convenience for the preparation of alignment Ti3C2Tx media, long-term sample preservation, and quantitative evaluation of alignment degree. Meanwhile, the alignment LC media for RDC measurement can be established in other MXenes such as Ti2CTx and Ti3CNTx. Collectively, our findings demonstrate the potential of creating various alignment media from the fascinating MXene family.

DNA-involved thermotropic liquid crystals from catanionic vesicles

Thermotropic liquid crystals (TLCs) have created unpredictable applications ranging from sensor to electronic devices. DNA can interact with positively charged cationic and anionic (catanionic) vesicles by electrostatic interaction to form DNA-based TLCs. In the present work, the polarizing optical microscopy (POM) images clearly demonstrate the formation of DNA-involved liquid crystals, we explore the general role of DNA-involved TLC formation and the regulating factors of properties of DNA-based TLCs. We verify the effect of the chain lengths of surfactants and DNA on the formation and properties of TLCs. We found that DNA-involved TLCs constructed by the different surfactants with same chain length present the excellent properties. The position of functional group of ferrocenyl surfactants greatly affects the formation of TLCs. The bulky group closing to the headgroup of surfactant and the strong electrostatic interaction between positively charged catanionic vesicles and DNA affect the formation of TLCs. Furthermore, we found that the shorter DNA strand length, the more consistent fit better with the vesicles to enhance the thermal stability of DNA-based TLCs. The influence factors of the formation of DNA-based TLCs were explored and the importance of interactions to the architecture of DNA-based TLCs also was underscored. Our results may direct the design and synthesis of functional DNA-based TLCs and lay the foundation of applications in the field of electrochemistry and flexible electronic devices.

PDLC with controllable microstructure using wavelength-selective two-stage polymerization

A wavelength-selective, two-stage polymerization of acrylate-thiol for the formation of polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films is developed. Via this method, the PDLC with microsphere polymer morphology was successfully prepared, which greatly improved the contrast ratio (CR) and adhesion without causing other performance degradation. The change of morphology from the porous to the microsphere structure could be controlled by adjusting the reaction time of the Michael addition reaction. Furthermore, the size and uniformity of the microsphere structure could be controlled by tuning the content of the free radical initiator. This work is expected to provide an effective method to control the microstructure of acrylate-thiol polymers in solution polymerization, and can possibly allow the fabrication of PDLCs with high CR and adhesion, which is of great significance in large, flexible displays, switchable windows, and light valves.

Synthesis and Characterization of Anatase TiO2 Nanorods: Insights from Nanorods’ Formation and Self-Assembly

Highly crystalline, organic-solvent-dispersible titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanorods (NRs) present promising chemicophysical properties in many diverse applications. In this paper, based on a modified procedure from literature, TiO2 NRs were synthesized via a ligand-assisted nonhydrolytic sol-gel route using oleic acid as the solvent, reagent, and ligand and titanium (IV) isopropoxide as the titanium precursor. This procedure produced monodisperse TiO2 NRs, as well as some semi-spherical titania nanocrystals (NCs) that could be removed by size-selective precipitation. X-ray diffraction and selected area electron diffraction results showed that the nanorods were anatase, while the semipheres also contained the TiO2(B) phase. By taking samples during the particle growth, it was found that the average length of the initially grown NRs decreased during the synthesis. Possible reasons for this unusual growth path, partially based on high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) observations during the growth, were discussed. The dispersion of anatase TiO2 nanorods was capable of spontaneous formation of lyotropic liquid crystals on the TEM grid and in bulk. Considering high colloidal stability together with the large optical birefringence displayed by these high refractive index liquid crystalline domains, we believe these TiO2 NRs dispersions are promising candidates for application in transparent and switchable optics.

Chromonic nematic liquid crystals in a room-temperature ionic liquid.

Planar multiaromatic molecules hierarchically and selectively arrange into nematic chromonic liquid crystals in the room temperature ionic liquid 2-hydroxyethylammonium formate. In a proof of concept, these liquid crystals were used as reaction media to produce mesostructured silica materials under mild biomimetic conditions. Several other applications are envisaged.

Autofluorescence spectroscopy for quantitative analysis of cellulose nanocrystals

The ability to determine the physicochemical properties of nanoparticles, such as cellulose nanocrystals, in suspension is critically important to maximize their potential. Currently, various techniques are required to ascertain different properties, which results in a laborious analysis procedure. Here, autofluorescence arising from the cluster-triggered emission (CTE) photoluminescence mechanism is utilized as an analytical spectroscopic tool to determine multiple properties from one data acquisition sequence. This study confirms that key properties - including the nanoparticle concentration in suspension, the critical concentration for liquid crystal formation, and the surface charge content - can be obtained simultaneously. Measured values are accurate to within 10% of conventional techniques with average residual errors of 0.4 wt% for the critical concentration, and 11 mmol kg-1 CNC for the surface charge content. This charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor-based methodology is rapid and does not require the addition of further chemicals. These results support the theory behind CTE and represent a new opportunity for quantitatively analysing non-aromatic, heteroatom-containing nanoparticles in flow based on understanding their inter- and intra-particle interactions.

Inducing Microscale Structural Order in Phage Nanofilament Hydrogels with Globular Proteins.

Biological hydrogels play important physiological roles in the body. These hydrogels often contain ordered subdomains that provide mechanical toughness and other tissue-specific functionality. Filamentous bacteriophages are nanofilaments with a high aspect ratio that can self-assemble into liquid crystalline domains that could be designed to mimic ordered biological hydrogels and can thus find applications in biomedical engineering. We have previously reported hydrogels of pure cross-linked liquid crystalline filamentous phage formed at very high concentrations exhibiting a tightly packed microstructure and high stiffness. In this work, we report a method for inducing self-assembly of filamentous phage into liquid crystalline hydrogels at concentrations that are several orders of magnitude below that of lyotropic liquid crystal formation, thus creating structural order but a less densely packed microstructure. Hybrid hydrogels of M13 phage and bovine serum albumin (0.25 w/v%) were formed and shown to adsorb up to 16× their weight in water. Neither component gelled on its own at the low concentrations used, suggesting synergistic action between the two components in the formation of the hydrogel. The hybrid hydrogels exhibited repetitive self-healing under physiological conditions and at room temperature, autofluorescence in three channels, and antibacterial activity toward Escherichia coli host cells. Furthermore, the hybrid hydrogels exhibited a more than 2× higher ability to pack water compared to BSA-only hydrogels and 2× lower compression modulus compared to tightly packed M13-only hydrogels, suggesting that our method could be used to create hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties and pore structure through the addition of globular proteins, while maintaining bioactivity and microscale structural order.

Comparison of lipid liquid crystal formulation and Vivitrol® for sustained release of Naltrexone: In vitro evaluation and pharmacokinetics in rats

Camurus’ FluidCrystal® injection depot is a lipid liquid crystal (LLC) phase formation-based method, comprising of glycerol dioleate (GDO) and soy phosphatidylcholine (SPC), together with minute quantities of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone solvent (NMP). The present study aimed to develop a method for LLC using sorbitan monooleate (LLC-SMO) instead of GDO to prepare a one-month sustained-release formulation of naltrexone (NTX) that is applied for the treatment of autism and treating alcohol dependence. The optical characteristics of the LLC were assessed by polarizing light microscopy (PLM) to reveal the presence of lamellar, hexagonal, and cubic mesophases. Furthermore, in vitro release of NTX and NMP, degradation, pharmacokinetics, and histopathology of LLC-GDO and LLC-SMO in rats were evaluated and compared to those of Vivitrol®. The PLM images revealed that the structure of LLC-SMO is hexagonal, similar to LLC-GDO. The in vitro release of NTX and its pharmacokinetic results in rats indicted that the LLC-SMO system is more uniform than LLC-GDO and Vivitrol® during 35 days. Histopathological results of LLC-GDO and LLC-SMO confirmed the biocompatibility of our LLC delivery systems. Taken together these data demonstrate that the LLC-SMO-based method, was efficient enough to sustain the release of NTX in vitro and in vivo, confirming the biocompatible nature of this delivery system.

Liquid Crystals Investigation Behavior on Azo-Based Compounds: A Review.

Liquid crystal is an intermediate phase between the crystalline solid and an isotropic liquid, a very common substance in our daily lives. Two major classes of liquid crystal are lyotropic, where a liquid crystal is dissolved in a specific solvent under a particular concentration and thermotropic, which can be observed under temperature difference. This review aims to understand how a structure of a certain azo compound might influence the liquid crystal properties. A few factors influence the formation of different liquid crystals: the length of the alkyl terminal chain, inter/intra-molecular interaction, presence of spacer, spacer length, polarization effects, odd-even effects, and the presence of an electron-withdrawing group or an electron-donating group. As final observations, we show the compound’s different factors, the other liquid crystal is exhibited, and the structure–property relationship is explained. Liquid crystal technology is an ideal system to be applied to products to maximize their use, especially in the electronic and medical areas.

Synthesis and characterization of alkylthio-attached azobenzene-based liquid crystal polymers: Roles of the alkylthio bond and polymer chain in phase behavior and liquid crystal formation

We demonstrate for the first time that the alkylthio (or thioether) bonds in the side-chains of liquid crystal (LC) polymers considerably influence the phase-transition behavior, mesomorphic properties, and nanostructures of the LC and crystal (Cr) phases. We synthesized three alkylthio-attached azobenzene-based polymethacrylates; namely, P–OS, P–SO, and P–SS, in which alkylthio bonds were introduced at an outer (terminal) 4-position, at an inner (polymer-chain side) 4-position, and at both the outer and inner 4-positions, respectively, of the azobenzene side chains. In marked contrast to the corresponding pre-monomers and methacrylate monomers, the P–OS, P–SO, and P–SS polymers form well-defined enantiotropic LC phases. Notably, while an outer terminal alkylthio bond renders azobenzene-based polymers (P–OS and P–SS) predominantly smectogenic, a sole inner alkylthio bond renders the P–SO polymer nematogenic. In addition, the outer and inner alkylthio bonds contribute to increasing and decreasing the phase-transition temperatures, respectively. The presence of the alkylthio bonds potentially provides LC polymers with crystallizability. Furthermore, X-ray diffractometry results reveal that the P–OS, P–SO, and P–SS polymers form deeply interdigitated bilayer structures in their SmA, highly ordered, and Cr phases. The specific packing mechanism is discussed in terms of intermolecular attractive interactions involving the sulfur atoms.

Impact of some mineral-based nanoparticles versus carbon nanoallotropes on properties of liquid crystal hydroxypropyl cellulose nanocomposite films

PurposeThis study aims to motivate the application of some low-cost minerals in synthesizing nanoparticles as effective additives on the performance of liquid crystal (LC) hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) nanocomposite film, in comparison with carbon nanoallotrope.Design/methodology/approachMetallic nanoparticles of vanadium oxide, montmorillonite (MMT) and bentonite were synthesized and characterized by different techniques (Transmission electron microscopy [TEM], X-ray diffraction [XRD] and Fourier transform infrared [FTIR]). While the XRD, FTIR, non-isothermal analysis thermogravimetric analysis, mechanical analysis, scanning electron microscope and polarizing microscope were techniques used to evaluate the key role of metallic nanoparticles on the performance of HPC-nanocomposite film.FindingsThe formation of nanoparticles was evidenced from TEM. The XRD and FTIR measurements of nanocomposite films revealed that incorporating the mineral nanoparticles led to enhance the HPCs crystallinity from 14% to 45%, without chemical change of HPC structure. It is interesting to note that these minerals provide higher improvement in crystallinity than carbon nanomaterials (28%). Moreover, the MMT provided film with superior thermal stability and mechanical properties than pure HPC and HPC containing carbon nanoparticles, where it increased the Ea from 583.6 kJ/mol to 669.3 kJ/mol, tensile strength from 2.25 MPa to 2.8 MPa, Young’s modulus from 119 MPa to 124 MPa. As well as it had a synergistic effect on the LC formation and the birefringence texture of the nanocomposites (chiral nematic).Research limitations/implicationsHydroxylpropyl cellulose-nanocomposite films were prepared by dissolving the HPC powder in water to prepare 50% concentration, (free or with incorporating 5% synthesized nanoparticles). To obtain films with uniform thickness, the prepared solutions were evenly spread on a glass plate via an applicator, by adjusting the thickness to 0.2 mm, then air dried.Practical implicationsThese minerals provide higher improvement in crystallinity than carbon nanomaterials (28%), moreover, the MMT and bentonite provided films with superior thermal stability than pure HPC and HPC containing carbon nanoparticles. The mineral nanoparticles (especially MMT nanoclays) had a synergistic effect on LC formation and the birefringence texture of the nanocomposites (chiral nematic).Social implicationsThis study presents the route to enhance the utilization of claystone available in El-Fayoum Province as the precursor for nanoparticles and production high performance LC nanocomposites.Originality/valueThis study presents the route for the valorization of low-cost mineral-based nanoparticles in enhancing the properties of HPC-film (crystallinity, thermal stability, mechanical strength), in comparison with carbon-based nanoparticles. Moreover, these nanoparticles provided more ordered mesophases and, consequently, good synergetic effect on LCs formation and the birefringence texture of the HPC-films.

Deconstruction of technical grade diglycerol isostearate enables the controlled preparation of hexosomes and liposomes

Glycerol-based technical grade surfactants of industrial interest generally contain a mixture of components with diverse composition. Consequently, their use cannot be generalized since the properties or the technical grade product will likely depend on batches and source. Herein, we address this issue by deconvoluting the role of individual components and pondering their influence on the phase behavior of mixtures. Technical grade diglycerol-monoisostearate (C41) was separated into different fractions based on polarity differences. Three fractions are obtained, which contain mainly unreacted diglycerol, the monoester and higher esterification degree amphiphiles. The formation of a single-phase reverse hexagonal liquid crystal (H2) in the water/C41 system is hindered by the presence of unreacted diglycerol, which dehydrates the hydrophilic channels of the H2 phase. On the other hand, the neat monoester forms a thermotropic lamellar liquid crystalline phase that melts at c.a. 40 °C, as confirmed by X-ray scattering (SAXS) and differential calorimetry (DSC). The formation of the lamellar phase in the neat monoester is ascribed to branching in the alkyl chain. The monoester also forms lamellar liquid crystals mixed with water and remains stable up to high water contents. Moreover, the addition of the higher esterification degree amphiphiles to the monoester/water mixtures promotes a transition from the lamellar phase to a reverse hexagonal one, confirmed by polarized optical microscopy and SAXS. Such transitions can be somehow predicted by calculations of the molecular packing parameters of mixtures. Similar to the lamellar phase, the reverse hexagonal liquid crystal remains stable in excess water. Finally, the coexistence between lamellar or hexagonal phases in excess water is harnessed to produce unilamellar vesicles and hexosomes, as confirmed by dynamic light scattering, SAXS, and cryo-electron microscopy.

Interplay of Active Stress and Driven Flow in Self-Assembled, Tumbling Active Nematics

Lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals (LCLCs) are a special type of hierarchical material in which self-assembled molecular aggregates are responsible for the formation of liquid crystal phases. Thanks to its unusual material properties and bio compatibility, it has found wide applications including the formation of active nematic liquid crystals. Recent experiments have uncovered tumbling character of certain LCLCs. However, how tumbling behavior modifies structure and flow in driven and active nematics is poorly understood. Here, we rely on continuum simulation to study the interplay of extensile active stress and externally driven flow in a flow-tumbling nematic with a low twist modulus to mimic nematic LCLCs. We find that a spontaneous transverse flow can be developed in a flow-tumbling active nematic confined to a hybrid alignment cell when it is in log-rolling mode at sufficiently high activities. The orientation of the total spontaneous flow is tunable by tuning the active stress. We further show that activity can suppress pressure-driven flow of a flow-tumbling nematic in a planar-anchoring cell but can also promote a transition of the director field under a pressure gradient in a homeotropic-anchoring cell. Remarkably, we demonstrate that the frequency of unsteady director dynamics in a tumbling nematic under Couette flow is invariant against active stress when below a threshold activity but exhibits a discontinuous increase when above the threshold at which a complex, periodic spatiotemporal director pattern emerges. Taken together, our simulations reveal qualitative differences between flow-tumbling and flow-aligning active nematics and suggest potential applications of tumbling nematics in microfluidics.

MESOPHASE AND GLASS FORMATION IN BINARY SYSTEMS CEASIUM AND BARIUM ALKANOATESMESOPHASE AND GLASS FORMATION IN BINARY SYSTEMS CEASIUM AND BARIUM ALKANOATES

Phase equilibria in binary systems of individually non-mesomorphic components: propionates, isobutyrates, butyrates and valerates of cesium and barium at temperatures from 20 to 400 °C have been investigated by the me­thods of differential thermal analysis and polarization polythermal microscopy. In all systems, the formation of intermediate li­quid-crystalline solutions of smectic modification (type A) was established. The tempe­rature-concentration regions of the formation of ionic liquid crystals and glasses are determined. The studies carried out show that in binary systems of cesium and barium alkanoates interme­diate liquid-crystal solutions are generated due to the latent mesomorphism of the correspon­ding cesium alkanoate and due to the eutectic decrease in liquidus temperatures in the binary systems. The thermal stability of the induced mesophase in the case of systems of the consi­dered type is influenced by the following factors: the degree of ordering of the melt, which correlates with the length of the alkyl chain of the alkanoate anion, and a decrease in the temperatures of the liquidus line relative to the latent clearing temperature. The possible influence of compounds melting congruently or incongruently, formed in binary systems, should also be taken into account. Experimental data indicate the largest temperature-concentration range of the mesophase in the butyrate system, where there are the most favorable conditions for the implementation of intermediate li­quid crystal solutions. Such conditions are the lar­gest decrease in liquidus temperatures in a series of systems relative to the latent clearing point, as well as an additional increase in thermal stability due to the formation of a congruently melting compound of anisometric structure. In the case of the valerate system, a certain increase in anisotropy in comparison with the butyrate system is leveled by high liquidus temperatures; here is the narrowest region of existence of the intermediate mesophase due to its thermal destabilization.

Simulated synthesis of silica nanowires by lyotropic liquid crystal template method

ABSTRACT Dissipative particle dynamics simulations were adopted to study the mechanism of lyotropic liquid crystal (LLC) formation and the synthesis process of silica nanowires by LLC template method. Simulation results show that the one-dimensional (1D) LLC channel can be formed at the Pluronic F127 concentration range of 61 ∼ 67%. With the increase of Pluronic F127 concentration, the diameter of LLC channel decreases and the deformation degree increases. The effect of PEO: PPO ratio on the diameter of LLC channel is slight. The appropriate PEO: PPO ratio of Pluronic is 40:70 for the formation of 1D LLC channel, as the deformation degree of channel is the smallest in this case. The effect of polymerisation degree on the diameter and deformation degree of LLC channel is both little. With the increase of TEOS concentration, the nanowire diameter increases rapidly at first, and then increases quite slowly. This work can provide guidance for silica nanowires synthesis by LLC template method.

Geometric features in lyotropic liquid crystalline phase transitions observed in aqueous surfactant systems

Lyotropic liquid crystalline phases are widely known to be formed in aqueous surfactant mixtures. Although the phase behavior of several surfactants has been elucidated in the past years, a striking absence of detailed discussion on how molecular geometric parameters vary as different liquid crystals are formed is consistently seen in literature. The current work aimed to partially fill this gap, by determining how several structural parameters changed in a variety of phase transitions previously observed in aqueous surfactant binary and ternary mixtures. The main findings reveal that the cell parameter dimensions are strongly correlated with the packing fraction of small aggregates in each phase; the folding and interpenetration of surfactant hydrocarbon chains are most likely to happen in phases with lower curvature, and can greatly affect other structural parameters; added components can alter the aqueous surfactant phase behavior at different extents; and highly ordered phases are favored by a substantial decrease in the cross-sectional areas per surfactant; among others. The obtained results enable important knowledge on lyotropic liquid crystal formation, in addition to providing detailed information on how to control and obtain such phases, thus prospecting new insights in areas where they are highly desired.

Polymorphic Phase Formation of Liquid Crystals Distributed in Semicrystalline Polymers: An Indicator of Interlamellar and Interspherulitic Segregation.

Amorphous and melted components can segregate into the interlamellar or interspherulitic regions of polymer crystals in their blends/mixtures; this phase behavior strongly influences the physical properties and functions of materials. However, it is experimentally difficult to evaluate the spatial distributions of the other components in polymer crystals. Herein, we use a small-molecule liquid crystal (LC) as a probe and find that it forms different solid phases when mixed with the semicrystalline polymer poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA). The LC can form the metastable phase at the lower PLLA crystallization temperature but the stable phase at the higher PLLA crystallization temperature in the PLLA/LC mixture. The formation of LC metastable and stable phases is attributed to the segregation of the LC material in the interlamellar and interspherulitic regions of polymer crystals, respectively. This study provides a potential way to evaluate the spatial segregation in the crystallization-induced microphase separation of polymer blends/mixtures.

Shear-Modulated Rates of Phase Transitions in Sphere-Forming Diblock Oligomer Lyotropic Liquid Crystals.

Hydration of the amphiphilic diblock oligomer C16H33(CH2CH2O)20OH (C16E20) leads to concentration-dependent formation of micellar body-centered cubic (BCC) and Frank-Kasper A15 lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs). Quiescent thermal annealing of aqueous LLCs comprising 56-59 wt % C16E20 at 25 °C after quenching from high temperatures established their ability to form short-lived BCC phases, which transform into long-lived, transient Frank-Kasper σ phases en route to equilibrium A15 morphologies on a time scale of months. Here, the frequency and magnitude of applied oscillatory shear show the potential to either dynamically stabilize the metastable BCC phase at low frequencies or increase the rate of formation of the A15 to minutes at high frequencies. Time-resolved synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (TR-SAXS) provides in situ characterization of the structures during shear and thermal processing. This work shows that the LLC morphology and order-order phase transformation rates can be controlled by tuning the shear strain amplitude and frequency.

Thermoresponsive liquid crystalline formulation of Exemestane: Design and structural characterization

Exemestane (EXE), a drug used for the treatment of breast cancer, has limited aqueous solubility of 0.08 mg/mL and log P∼ 4.22. The only available marketed formulation in form of tablets possess limitations of poor oral absorption (∼ 42 %), low solubility, extensive hepatic metabolism and numerous adverse effects due to its peripheral absorption. In order to address these issues, an alternative route of topical application is attempted through a lamellar liquid crystal based formulation. Pluronic® was used as stabilizer due to its higher surface activity and gelling properties. The solubility enhancement of EXE was achieved using liquid crystal formulation. We have investigated the effect of concentration of oil, Smix (surfactant – cosurfactant mixture) and EXE on lattice parameter, rheology and drug release for various combinations of the formulation. The small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) measurement demonstrated an evidence of a lamellar structure with lattice parameter ∼15 nm, which increases with corresponding increase in oil and EXE due to increase in hydrophobic interactions leading to an expansion of lamella. The inter lamellar distance decreases at higher surfactant concentration, due to the distribution of the same amount of oil and drug within larger concentration of surfactant molecules. The rheology measurement exhibited gel like properties at low shear rate indicating soft gel formation, which converts to Newtonian type flowing liquid at higher shear rate. At constant Smix with increasing oil content, the viscosity decreases, which is attributed to the dilution of the lamellar structures with oil. The temperature sweep rheology reveals a change in the viscosity near physiological temperature, which may be attributed to the structural transition of lamellae. The formulation remains gel like at room temperature, which aids in proper application to skin and converts it to free flowing liquid above 37 °C. The invitro drug release of optimized formulation for 24 h was ∼ 38 % at 37 °C, which increased to 50 % at 42 °C. Accordingly, this formulation containing thermoresponsive lamellar liquid crystal gels of EXE represents a viable option for hyperthermia induced enhanced drug release. The characteristic and advantageous features offered by this formulation includes improved bioavailability of EXE due to enhanced solubility, permeability and absorption.