Dendrimers are highly branched molecules. Amphiphilic glycodendrimers have been synthesized for the first time. These macro-molecules have tunable carbohydrate head groups and hydrophobic tails. The precise architecture of the dendrimers facilitates assembly of precise structures, including vesicles (glycodendrimersomes). These novel vesicles display biological activity, including fusion and coalescence in response to lectins.

A family of 51 glycodendrimers was synthesized using modular chemistry, with carbohydrate head groups consisting of mono- and di-saccharides linked to hydrophobic tails with different chemistries. The molecules self-assembled into unique supra-structures including vesicles and cubic assemblies.