The invention provides a novel system of nano-assemblies and related method for delivery of therapeutic, diagnostic or imaging agent to biological sites. The compositions and methods of the invention enable the syntheses of novel polymeric nano-assemblies (nanoparticles) under non-emulsion conditions with the incorporation of hydrophobic guest molecules. The versatilities and advantages of the polymer nanoparticles of the invention include: (i) the guest molecules (e.g., drug molecules) can be readily incorporated non-covalently within the nanoparticles (ii) the surface of the nanoparticles are functionalizable (iii) the non-covalently encapsulated guest molecule (payload) can be released in response to a biologically relevant stimulus at the target site (iv) the payload is held by the polymeric nanoparticle before being internalized in cells and can be released within the cellular interiors (v) encapsulating lipophilic small molecules within its crosslinked interiors and binding proteins on its surface through electrostatic interactions (vi) facile synthetic methods for ligand functionalization that can be utilized to decorate nanogels with cell targeting ligands that facilitate receptor-dependent cellular uptake, and (vii) the payload release kinetics is tunable and controllable.
