Supramolecular handcuffs in polymeric architecture

A block co-polymer comprising either:

• a first polymeric molecule unit having CB[8] guest molecules at its termini;
• and,
• (a) two units of a second polymeric molecule each having a CB[8] guest molecule at a terminal, or
• (b) two units of a linker molecule each having a CB[8] guest molecule;
• the units of the first and second polymeric molecule, or the units of the first polymeric molecule and the linker molecule, being non-covalently linked by ternary guest-host complexes comprising a CB[8] guest molecule on each unit and a CB[8] molecule, or a variant or derivative thereof;
• or:
• two units of a first polymeric molecule each having a CB[8] guest molecule, or a variant or derivative thereof, at a terminal;
• and,
• (a) a second polymeric molecule unit having CB[8] guest molecules at its termini, or
• (b) a linker molecule unit having CB[8] guest molecules at its termini;
• the units of the first and second polymeric molecule, or the units of the first polymeric molecule and the linker molecule, being non-covalently linked by ternary guest-host complexes comprising a CB[8] guest molecule on each unit and a CB[8] molecule, or a variant or derivative thereof.

An encapsulant comprising a plurality of amphiphilic block co-polymers

• each amphiphilic block co-polymer comprising;
• one or more of units of a hydrophobic polymer having first CB[8] guest molecules at its termini;
• and,
• one or more units of a hydrophilic polymer having second CB[8] guest molecules at its termini,
• the units of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymer being non-covalently linked by ternary guest-host complexes comprising the first and second CB[8] guest molecules and a CB[8] molecule, or a variant or derivative thereof,
• wherein said plurality of block co-polymers aggregate to form a micelle or a vesicle in aqueous solution.

A vehicle for delivery of a therapeutic compound comprising:

• a plurality of amphiphilic block co-polymers
• each amphiphilic block co-polymer comprising one or more of units of a hydrophobic polymer having first CB[8] guest molecules at its termini;
• and,
• one or more units of a hydrophilic polymer having second CB[8] guest molecules at its termini,
• the units of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymer being non-covalently linked by ternary guest-host complexes comprising the first and second CB[8] guest molecules and a CB[8] molecule, or a variant or derivative thereof,
• said plurality of co-polymers forming a micelle or vesicle, containing a therapeutic compound for delivery.

A method of purifying a target molecule from a sample comprising:

• providing a sample comprising a target molecule linked to a first CB[8] guest molecule,
• contacting the sample with an immobilised first complex comprising a CB[8] molecule, or variant or derivative thereof, and a second CB[8] guest molecule such that the first CB[8] guest molecule interacts with the first complex to form a second complex comprising the CB[8] molecule, or variant or derivative thereof, the first and second CB[8] guest molecules and the target molecule linked to the first CB[8] guest molecule,
• isolating the second complex;
• and,
• releasing the first CB[8] guest molecule linked to the target molecule from the complex,
• the target molecule being purified from the sample.

A method of producing a block co-polymer comprising either:

• providing a population of first polymeric molecules having CB[8] guest molecules at their termini and (a) a population of second polymeric molecules having a CB[8] guest molecules at a terminal;
• or (b) a population of linker molecules each having a CB[8] guest molecule,
• contacting the populations of (a) first and second polymeric molecules;
• or (b) first polymeric molecules and linker molecules, with a population of CB[8] molecules, or variants or derivatives thereof, such that CB[8] guest molecules, or variants or derivative thereofs, interact with CB[8] molecules to form ternary guest-host complexes,
• thereby producing a block co-polymer comprising (a) a plurality of first and second polymeric molecules non-covalently linked together by said complexes;
• or (b) a plurality of first polymeric molecules and linker molecules non-covalently linked together by said complexes;
• or:
• providing a population of first polymeric molecules each having a CB[8] guest molecule at a terminal and (a) a population of second polymeric molecules each having CB[8] guest molecules at their termini;
• or (b) a population of linker molecules each having CB[8] guest molecules at their termini,
• contacting the populations of (a) first and second polymeric molecules;
• or (b) first polymeric molecules and linker molecules, with a population of CB[8] molecules, or variants or derivatives thereof, such that CB[8] guest molecules, or variants or derivatives thereof, interact with CB[8] molecules to form ternary guest-host complexes,
• thereby producing a block co-polymer comprising (a) a plurality of first and second polymeric molecules non-covalently linked together by said complexes;
• or (b) a plurality of first polymeric molecules and linker molecules non-covalently linked together by said complexes.