Glycoligand-targeted core–shell nanospheres with tunable drug release profiles from calixarene–cyclodextrin heterodimers

Stable core–shell nanospheres self-assemble in water from heterodimers combining a hydrophobic calix[4]arene moiety and a hydrophilic β-cyclodextrin head; their potential to encapsulate and provide sustained release of the anticancer drug docetaxel and undergo surface post-modification with glycoligands targeting the macrophage mannose receptor is discussed.