Self-assembling Depsipeptides on Aggregation-Induced Emission Luminogens: A New Way to Create Programmable Nanovesicles and Soft Nanocarriers

Abstract

We introduce the proof of concept of a new methodology to produce robust hollow nanovesicles stable in water or mixtures of water and organic solvents. The bottom-up produced nanovesicles are formed by the self-assembly of depsipeptide chains of natural origin combined with new aggregation-induced emission luminogens that function as constitutional vesicle-forming moieties and fluorescent indicators of the structure of the nanovesicle. The newly formed nanovesicles are robust enough to be used to carry large molecules such as physiological peptides without losing their structural characteristics, acting as programmable nanocarrier systems within living cells as Trojan horse systems, constituting a new approach to active transport and nanoencapsulation.