Cross-linkable phosphonate-containing supramolecular complexes and their use for delivery of therapeutic and diagnostic agents

A method of making supramolecular aggregates comprising a phosphonate or a combination of chemically distinct phosphonates, said phosphonate(s), having hydrophilic head groups and hydrophobic tail groups comprising a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain, at least a portion of said hydrophobic tail groups having at least one cross-linkable moiety, said aggregates having a polar exterior region comprising said hydrophilic head groups and a non-polar core region comprising said hydrophobic tail groups, said method comprising:

• a. mixing a predetermined quantity of said phosphonate(s) with a sufficient amount of a biologically acceptable buffer to form a mixture, heating said mixture to boiling, and cooling said mixture, thereby providing an array of aggregates of diverse size;
• b. subjecting the resulting mixture to extrusion to produce supramolecular aggregates of uniform size distribution;
• and
• c. irradiating said aggregate with a light source generating energy effective to form cross-links between the cross-linkable moieties of said hydrophobic tail groups.