Nanoparticles with decreasing surface hydrophobicities: influence on plasma protein adsorption

The rapid uptake of i.v. injected nanoparticles by cells of the mononuclear phagocytic system (MPS) is a major obstacle for a long blood circulation time and a drug targeting to sites other than the MPS. The adsorption of proteins on the particles surface after i.v. administration depends on their surface characteristics and is regarded as key factor for the in vivo organ distribution. The objective of this study is to investigate changes in the plasma protein adsorption patterns in the course of surface hydrophobicity variation. Latex particles with decreasing surface hydrophobicity were synthesized as model colloidal carriers. Physicochemical characterization had been performed and considerable differences in the protein adsorption patterns on the particles could be detected by using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE). Correlations between physicochemical characteristics and the protein adsorption patterns have been found and are discussed.