A set of six hydrophobically derivatized polymers based on polyglycerol
sulfates have been investigated to determine the influence of scaffold
architecture on the encapsulation properties of hydrophobic guests. Each of
three block and statistical copolymers has been synthesized with phenyl,
naphthyl, and biphenyl substituents in a one-pot procedure. The copolymers
have been functionalized with sulfate groups in order to introduce an
electrostatically repulsive surface that can stabilize the aggregated
carriers. In addition, sulfates provide a highly active targeting moiety for
inflammation and cellular uptake. UV measurements show a supramolecular
encapsulation of the investigated guest molecules in the low μM range. The
transport studies with pyrene and an indocarbocyanine dye further indicated a
core–shell-type architecture which provides a distinct amphiphilicity as
required for supramolecular guest complexation. The combination of a host
functionality with an active sulfate targeting moiety has been used to
investigate the structure related cellular transport properties