US Patent 6916488 Amphiphilic polymeric vesicles

Vesicles made from amphiphilic copolymers are disclosed. The amphiphilic copolymers can be ABA copolymers, where one of A and B is hydrophilic and the other is hydrophobic. AB copolymers can also be used. The copolymers may be crosslinked to form nanocapsules. Crosslinking can be accomplished using a variety of methods, including end to end polymerization of copolymers having terminal unsaturated groups. Molecules, such as membrane proteins, can be incorporated into the wall of the vesicles or nanocapsules.