Micellar nanoparticles and uses thereof

A cationic carrier unit comprising

• [WP]-L1-[CC]-L2-[AM] (Schema I)
• or
• [WP]-L1-[AM]-L2-[CC] (Schema II)
• wherein:
• (i) WP is a water-soluble biopolymer moiety comprising polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyglycerol, or poly(propylene glycol) (PPG);
• (ii) CC is a positively charged carrier moiety comprising one or more basic amino acids;
• (iii) AM is an adjuvant moiety capable of modulating an immune response, an inflammatory response, and/or a tissue microenvironment comprising an imidazole derivative, an amino acid, a vitamin, or any combination thereof;
• and
• (iv) L1 and L2 are independently optional linkers,
• wherein when a plurality of cationic carrier units are mixed with an anionic payload, the cationic carrier units and anionic payload form a micelle.

A micelle comprising a plurality of cationic carrier units and an anionic payload, wherein each cationic carrier unit comprises

• [WP]-L1-[CC]-L2-[AM] (Schema I)
• or
• [WP]-L1-[AM]-L2-[CC] (Schema II)
• wherein:
• (i) WP is a water-soluble biopolymer moiety comprising polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyglycerol, or poly(propylene glycol) (PPG);
• (ii) CC is a positively charged carrier moiety comprising one or more basic amino acids;
• (iii) AM is an adjuvant moiety capable of modulating an immune response, an inflammatory response, and/or a tissue microenvironment comprising an imidazole derivative, an amino acid, a vitamin, or any combination thereof, and
• (iv) L1 and L2 are independently optional linkers;
• wherein the CC moieties of the plurality of cationic carrier units and the anionic payload are associated with each other, and wherein the association is via a covalent bond, a non-covalent bond, or an ionic bond.