Abstract The design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel triazolyl p38α MAPK inhibitors with improved water solubility for formulation in cationic liposomes (SAINT-O- Somes) targeted at diseased endothelial cells is described. Water-solubilizing groups were introduced via a 'click'reaction of functional azides with 2-alkynyl imidazoles and isosteric oxazoles to generate two small libraries of 1, 4-disubstituted 1, 2, 3-triazolyl p38α MAPK ...