We present the preparation of ligand-conjugated redox-responsive polymer nanocontainers by the supramolecular decoration of cyclodextrin vesicles with a thin redox-cleavable polymer shell that displays molecular recognition units on its surface. Two widely different recognition motifs (mannose-Concanavalin A and biotin-streptavidin) are compared and the impact of ligand density on the nanocontainer surface as well as an additional functionalization with nonadhesive poly(ethylene glycol) is studied. Aggregation assays, dynamic light scattering, and a fluorometric quantification reveal that the molecular recognition of ligand-conjugated polymer nanocontainers by receptor proteins is strongly affected by the multivalency of interactions and the association strength of the recognition motif. Finally, microcontact printing is used to prepare streptavidin-patterned surfaces, and the specific immobilization of biotin-conjugated nanocontainers is demonstrated. As a prototype of a nanosensor, these tethered nanocontainers can sense a reductive environment and react by releasing a payload.
Keywords: immobilization; molecular recognition; nanocontainer; self-assembly; stimulus-responsive; surface design.