We claim:
1. A self-assembled supramolecular nanoparticle (SNP), comprising:
a plurality of binding components, each having a plurality of binding regions, wherein the plurality of binding regions comprises β-cyclodextrin;
a plurality of cores that are suitable to at least provide some mechanical structure to said self-assembled supramolecular nanoparticle, wherein each of said plurality of cores is one of an organic core or an inorganic core, which comprises at least one core binding element adapted to bind to the binding regions to form a first inclusion complex, wherein the core binding element comprises adamantane, and wherein the first inclusion complex is adamantane-β-cyclodextrin; and
a plurality of terminating components, each having a single terminating binding element that binds to remaining binding regions of one of said plurality of binding components by forming a second inclusion complex, wherein the single terminating binding element comprises adamantane, and wherein the second inclusion complex is adamantane-β-cyclodextrin;
wherein said plurality of cores and said plurality of binding components self assemble when brought into contact to form said self-assembled supramolecular nanoparticle, and
wherein said plurality of terminating components act to occupy the remaining binding regions of said plurality of binding components, and said plurality of terminating components are present in a sufficient quantity relative to said plurality of binding regions of said plurality of binding components to terminate further binding, thereby forming a discrete particle, and
wherein the discrete particle is a member of a monodisperse population having a size of at least about 30 nm and less than about 500 nm.
2. A self-assembled supramolecular nanoparticle according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the cores further comprises at least one element selected from a light emitting compound, a compound having a radioactive or magnetically active isotope, a targeting ligand that targets at least one cell surface proteins, and a cell permeation ligand.
3. A self-assembled supramolecular nanoparticle according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one element is a targeting ligand that targets at least one cell surface proteins, wherein the targeting ligand is selected from the group consisting of an antibody, an oligonucleotide, a polypeptide, and a small molecule.
4. A self-assembled supramolecular nanoparticle according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one element is a cell permeation ligand.
5. A self-assembled supramolecular nanoparticle according to claim 2 , wherein the targeting ligand is selected from the group consisting of RGD, EGF, folic acid, transferrin, and antibodies for targeting cell surface markers.
6. A self-assembled supramolecular nanoparticle according to claim 1 , comprising at least two different terminating components.
7. A self-assembled supramolecular nanoparticle according to claim 1 , further comprising a cargo, wherein the cargo is encapsulated within the supramolecular nanoparticle.
8. A self-assembled supramolecular nanoparticle according to claim 7 wherein said cargo is a therapeutic compound; siRNA; peptide; oligonucleotide; or plasmid.
9. A self-assembled supramolecular nanoparticle according to claim 7 wherein said cargo is a therapeutic compound or plasmid.
10. A self-assembled supramolecular nanoparticle according to claim 1 , wherein said inorganic core comprises at least one of gold nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles, quantum dots, silica nanoparticles or semiconductive oxides.
11. A self-assembled supramolecular nanoparticle according to claim 1 , wherein said organic core comprises at least one of dendrimers, polymers, micelles, liposomes or vesicles.
12. A self-assembled supramolecular nanoparticle according to claim 1 , wherein said organic core comprises at least one of a dendrimer, branched polyethyleneimine, linear polyethyleneimine, polylysine, polylactide, polylactide-co-glycolide, polyanhydrides, poly-ε-caprolactones, polymethyl methacrylate, poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) or polypeptides.
13. A self-assembled supramolecular nanoparticle according to claim 12 , wherein said organic core comprises a dendrimer.
14. A self-assembled supramolecular nanoparticle according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of terminating components comprises at least one of polyethylene glycol, polymer, polypeptide, or oligosaccharide.
15. A self-assembled supramolecular nanoparticle according to claim 1 , wherein the binding component further comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of a light emitting compound, a compound having a radioactive or magnetically active isotope, a targeting ligand that targets at least one cell surface proteins, and a cell permeation ligand.
16. A self-assembled supramolecular nanoparticle according to claim 15 , wherein the one or more elements is a targeting ligand that targets at least one cell surface proteins, or a cell permeation ligand.
17. A self-assembled supramolecular nanoparticle according to claim 1 , wherein the terminating component further comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of a light emitting compound, a compound having a radioactive or magnetically active isotope, a targeting ligand that targets at least one cell surface proteins, and a cell permeation ligand.
18. A self-assembled supramolecular nanoparticle according to claim 17 , wherein the at least one element is a targeting ligand that targets at least one cell surface proteins, or a cell permeation ligand.
19. A self-assembled supramolecular nanoparticle according to claim 1 , wherein the structural components are selected from the group consisting of 4-Ad-PAMAM, 8-Ad-PAMAM, and Ad-grafted 2-nm Au colloids.
20. A self-assembled supramolecular nanoparticle according to claim 1 , wherein the binding components are selected from the group consisting of CD-PEI, CD-PEI-DOTA, and 6-Mono-tosy-β-cyclodextrin (6-OTs-β-CD).
21. A self-assembled supramolecular nanoparticle according to claim 1 , wherein the terminating components are selected from the group consisting of Ad-PEG, RGD-PEG-Ad, and TAT-PEG-Ad.
22. A self-assembled supramolecular nanoparticle according to claim 1 , wherein the binding components further comprise a polymer, an oligosaccharide, or a polypeptide.
23. A self-assembled supramolecular nanoparticle according to claim 1 , wherein the binding components further comprise polyethylene imine or poly-L-lysine.