2.

Preparation of dendritic PIC assemblies from a cationic dendrimer and an anionic PEG–PGA copolymer [(poly­(ethylene glycol)-block-poly- l -glutamic acid] (A). The PCD of the dendrimer and the ionic strength of the medium allow tuning the uPIC architecture and the size and morphology of PIC assemblies. Either reducing the PCD (from top down) or increasing the ionic strength (from left to right) favors a cone-to-rod progression of the uPIC leading to larger PICsomes (B). Synthesis of dendrimers with variable PCD by partial reduction of the terminal azides of 2­[G3]-N₃ (C).