Fig. 1: Adaptive insertion of the hydrophobic anchor into the PEG host for programmable surface functionalization.

a, Schematic showing the insertion of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon into PEG corona. b, Design of the molecular probe. The probe consists of a Py anchor (which fluoresces in the presence of ultraviolet light) joined to a functional module through a spacer. Electron transfer from the functional module quenches the fluorescence of Py. c, Loading of the molecular probe onto PEG corona of polymersomes. The membrane of the polymersomes comprises a hydrophobic polystyrene core and two hydrophilic PEG coronas. d, Schematic of adaptive insertion for programmable surface functionalization, showing substitution and the on/off insertion switch.