Targeting protein-loaded CB[8]-mediated supramolecular nanocarriers to cells
Emanuela Cavatorta1, Jens Voskuhl1, Dorothee Wasserberg2
1Molecular Nanofabrication Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, Department of Science and Technology, University of Twente, P. O. Box 217, 7500 AE, Enschede, The Netherlands. Email: p.jonkheijm@utwente.nl;
Abstract:
Supramolecular amphiphiles, consisting of ternary complexes of cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]), an alkylated paraquat derivative and a tetraethylene glycol-functionalized azobenzene, self-assemble into vesicles of about 200 nm in diameter. The outer surface of the vesicles was functionalized with cell-targeting ligands. These vesicles were employed for loading and delivery of proteins into cells. Supramolecular amphiphile-derived vesicles show great promise as nanocarriers of functional molecules to be transferred into cells.
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