| abstract |
A lock unimolecular micelle includes at least one engineered acceptor specifically binding a ligand (or specifically a 'key' unimolecular micelle) thereto. A key unimolecular micelle comprises a core molecule and a plurality of branches extending therefrom, at least one of the branches including a shank portion extending therefrom having a terminal moiety at an end thereof for binding to a complimentary acceptor of a lock unimolecular micelle. Together, the lock and key micelles form a unit, either irreversibly or reversibly bound wherein the lock micelle is a soluble receptor engineered to specifically bind to the specifically engineered key micelle. |