Addressing the PEG Mucoadhesivity Paradox to Engineer Nanoparticles that “Slip” through the Human Mucus Barrier

Abstract

Outsmarting the barrier: Conventional poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) coated particles (green with light purple border) are immobilized in human mucus networks by adhesive interactions (red) with the mucus mesh (black lines). A dense, low molecular weight PEG coating (blue) uniquely endows nanoparticles with a mucoinert surface that enables their rapid mucus penetration (trajectory indicated by grey line).