Ultra-small Lipid Structures (USLS) with an average mean particle diameter of less than 100 nm are made using a single step process by diluting a hydro-organic solution containing lipids and passenger compounds. These particles are capable of sequestering the passenger molecules and self-assemble in a single process step into USLS. The USLS have applications in, for example, agricultural, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and food and beverage industries.