α-helical polypeptide microcapsules formed by emulsion-templated self-assembly

α-Helical peptide microcapsules were prepared by the emulsion-templated self-assembly of amphiphilic poly(γ-benzyl L-glutamate)s (PBLG) 1. By mixing solutions of 1 in dichloromethane (in the form of a sodium salt) with water, oil-in-water emulsions were obtained. Spontaneous stripping of the dichloromethane phase caused a decrease in the diameter of the microdroplets and finally stable microcapsules formed. The microcapsules contain an inner aqueous phase as observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Binding of hydrophobic pyrene molecules to the polypeptide shell was also demonstrated. The present polypeptide microcapsules are stable even after drying in air and they would serve as supramolecular vehicles for both hydrophobic and water-soluble molecules.