Aggregation behavior of three N-acyl amino acid surfactants, sodium N-(11-acrylamidoundecanoyl)-L-serinate (SAUS), sodium N-(11-acrylamidoundecanoyl)-L-asparaginate (SAUAS), and sodium N-(11-acrylamidoundecanoyl)-L-glutaminate (SAUGL), was studied in aqueous solution by use of surface tension, fluorescence, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopic techniques. The amphiphiles have been shown to initially form flexible bilayer structures, which upon increase of surfactant concentration transform into closed spherical vesicles. The transmission electron micrographs of the aqueous solutions of the surfactants confirmed the existence of spherical vesicles. Dynamic light scattering measurements were performed to obtain hydrodynamic radii of the vesicles. Circular dichroism spectra of the amphiphiles indicated formation of chiral helical aggregates in the case of SAUS. The self-assernbly formation of the amphiphiles has been discussed in light of the intermolecular hydrogen bonding interaction of the amide groups. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.