Proteins have the capacity to bind specific sets of compounds known as ligands, these are small molecules with a recurrent theme in their molecular design that is a characteristic exploited here to (i) identify particular affinities of small molecules for proteins with the aim of using them as ligands, inhibitors, or targeting moieties in more complex systems by means of a methodology that screens small molecules based on protein affinity; (ii) decorate a self-assembling supramolecular system at different positions, making it responsive to a complementary protein with the aim of exploring differences in disassembly and sensitivity of the release of encapsulated guest molecules, depending on the initial location of the ligand upon binding to a specific protein; (iii) decorate self-assembling and crosslinkable dendrons aiming to introduce a system incorporating multiple ligands, sequentially responsive to a reducing environment, and to specific proteins.