Combining self-consistent-field theory and density-functional theory

we systematically study the deformation of copolymer micelles induced by the presence of amphiphilic dimer particles. Due to the amphiphilic nature

dimer particles tend to accumulate onto the interface of the copolymer micelle. With increasing concentration of the symmetric dimer particles

which are made of two identical spherical particles

the micelle deforms from the initial sphere to ellipse

dumbbell

and finally separates into two micelles. Furthermore

asymmetric dimer particles

composed by two particles with different sizes

are considered to investigate the influence of geometry of dimer particles on the deformation of the micelle. It is found that the micelle inclines to deform into dumbbell due to the additional curvature originating in the gathering of asymmetric dimer particles onto the interface of the micelle. The present study on the deformation of micelles is useful to understand the possible shape variation in the course of cell division/fusion.