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Updated: May 10, 2026

Manufacture and Drug Delivery Applications of Silk Nanoparticles
Published on: October 8, 2016
Heterogeneity in nanoparticles influences biodistribution and targeting
Isaac M Adjei1, Chiranjeevi Peetla, Vinod Labhasetwar
1Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
Nanoparticle properties significantly impact biodistribution and tumor targeting. Optimizing nanocarrier formulation, specifically size and surface charge, is crucial for effective drug delivery and reduced off-target accumulation.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- A significant portion of administered nanoparticles (NPs) accumulates in non-target tissues.
- Nanoparticle (NP) heterogeneity in size, charge, and texture may contribute to this off-target localization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of NP heterogeneity on biodistribution and tumor targeting.
- To compare the in vivo behavior of nanoparticles with varying properties.
Main Methods:
- Simultaneous optical imaging of two distinct poly(d,l-lactide co-glycolide) nanoparticle populations in a prostate tumor xenograft mouse model.
- NPs varied in size and surface charge: small neutral NPs (S-neutral-NPs) and large anionic NPs (L-anionic-NPs).
Main Results:
- S-neutral-NPs exhibited significantly longer circulation times (t1/2 = 96 min) compared to L-anionic-NPs (t1/2 = 13 min).
- S-neutral-NPs showed 75% greater accumulation in the tumor and a 13-fold higher tumor-to-liver signal ratio than L-anionic-NPs.
- Despite identical formulation components, NP size and surface charge dictated distinct biodistribution patterns.
Conclusions:
- Nanoparticle formulation, specifically controlling size and surface charge, is critical for enhancing tumor targeting efficacy.
- Tailoring nanocarrier properties can significantly improve drug delivery efficiency and minimize off-target accumulation.
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