Lipoic acid based core cross-linked micelles for multivalent platforms: design, synthesis and application in bio-imaging and drug delivery.

Natural lipoic acid derived small-molecule amphiphiles self-assemble into micelles in water. The presence of numerous disulfides accumulated in the core makes the micelles readily cross-linked to achieve the establishment of core cross-linked micelles (CCMs). Thanks to the inherent biocompatibility, the resulting lipoic acid based CCMs (LA-CCMs) are good multivalent platforms for biomedical applications.