DNA‐Decorated Luminescent Vesicles as Drug Carriers

DNA based spherical nanostructures is one of the promising nanocarriers for drug delivery applications because of their excellent biocompatibility and unique structural features of DNA. Herein, we report the amphiphilicity driven self‐assembly of DNA‐phenyleneethynylene based amphiphile into luminescent vesicles and their cellular uptake toward HeLa cell. Spectroscopic and microscopic analyses reveal the self‐assembly of this class of amphiphiles into vesicular nanostructures with corona made of DNA and a functional hydrophobic membrane. Vesicles exhibit promising cell permeability. DNA (hydrophilic)‐chromophore (hydrophobic) hybrid amphiphiles self‐assemble into vesicular nanostructures through the hydrophobic and π‐π stacking interactions of chromophoric units, which makes the membrane of the vesicle, whereas the hydrophilic DNA is exposed to the aqueous medium on either side of the membrane. Vesicles exhibit promising cell permeability, which indicates that DNA based vesicles could be potential candidate as a delivery vehicles into the cell.