Preparation of Optical Cells.

To investigate GUVs prepared in 15% (wt/wt) DSCG, we added a small volume (∼4.5 µL) of the GUV mixture to a cavity created using sheets of Mylar film (∼60 µm in thickness) placed between two glass substrates. After assembly, the chamber was immediately sealed with epoxy glue to prevent water evaporation. Samples were prepared in the isotropic phase at 48 °C and quenched to the nematic phase at 25 °C to investigate the dynamical shape changes of GUVs that accompany this phase transition. The glass surfaces of the substrates caused degenerate, planar anchoring of the nematic DSCG phase.