<i>In vivo</i> formation of protein corona on gold nanoparticles. The effect of their size and shape

TLDR

Nanoparticle drug delivery depends on reaching target organs, but injection into blood instantly coats particles with a dynamic protein corona, and while in vitro factors are known, the link between synthetic identity and biological identity in vivo remains unclear. We investigate in vivo protein corona formation on anisotropic gold nanorods and nanostars after blood circulation. PEG‑coated gold nanorods and nanostars of various shapes and sizes were intravenously injected into CD‑1 mice and later recovered for analysis. Gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry revealed complex coronas forming within 10 min, with protein amount and composition varying with particle size and shape.

Abstract

The efficacy of drug delivery and other nanomedicine-related therapies largely relies on the ability of nanoparticles to reach the target organ. However, when nanoparticles are injected into the bloodstream, their surface is instantly modified upon interaction with blood components, principally with proteins. It is well known that a dynamic and multi-layered protein structure is formed spontaneously on the nanoparticle upon contact with physiological media, which has been termed protein corona. Although several determinant factors involved in protein corona formation have been identified from in vitro studies, specific relationships between the nanomaterial synthetic identity and its ensuing biological identity under realistic in vivo conditions remain elusive. We present here a detailed study of in vivo protein corona formation after blood circulation of anisotropic gold nanoparticles (nanorods and nanostars). Plasmonic gold nanoparticles of different shapes and sizes were coated with polyethyleneglycol, intravenously administered in CD-1 mice and subsequently recovered. The results from gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry analysis revealed the formation of complex protein coronas, as early as 10 minutes post-injection. The total amount of protein adsorbed onto the particle surface and the protein corona composition were found to be affected by both the particle size and shape.