Dopamine Nanocapsules and Uses Thereof

A method for the preparation of nanocapsules each comprising a shell obtained upon polymerization of a compound of the general formula I:

• wherein
• R1 is H, OH, —CH2OH, F or CN;
• R2 is H, R4 or —CH2—R4;
• R3 is H, NH2, OH, SH or COOH;
• and
• R4 1S NH2, OH or SH,
• provided that R2 and R3 are not both H,
• said shell having a thickness of about 1 nm to about 20 nm, about 3 nm to about 15 nm, about 3 nm to about 10 nm, about 4 nm to about 6 nm, or about 5 nm, said method comprising:
• (i) dissolving said compound in a basic aqueous solution;
• (ii) overlaying said aqueous solution with a non-aqueous solvent, thus forming a biphasic system;
• (iii) applying sonication to the aqueous-non-aqueous interface of said biphasic system thereby obtaining said nanocapsules;
• and
• (iv) isolating said nanocapsules.