A particle is disclosed that comprises a first volume of hydrophobe-rich material with tunable dissolution and solubilization characteristics and a distinct second volume of nanostructured nonlamellar liquid crystalline material, said second volume containing said first domain and being capable of being in equilibrium with said first volume. Preferably, the nanostructured nonlamellar liquid crystalline material is capable of being in equilibrium with a polar solvent or a water-immiscible solvent or both.