PEGylation-Dependent Cell Uptake of Lipid Nanoparticles Revealed by Spatiotemporal Correlation Spectroscopy

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a common surface modification for lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to improve their stability and in vivo circulation time. However, the impact of PEGylation on LNP cellular uptake remains poorly understood. To tackle this issue, we systematically compared plain and PEGylated LNPs by combining dynamic light scattering, electrophoretic light scattering, and synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) that unveils a striking similarity in size and core structure but a significant reduction in surface charge. Upon administration to human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cells, plain and PEGylated LNPs were internalized through different endocytic routes, as revealed by spatiotemporal correlation spectroscopy. An imaging-derived mean square displacement (iMSD) analysis shows that PEGylated LNPs exhibit a significantly stronger preference for caveolae-mediated endocytosis (CAV) and clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) pathways compared to plain LNPs, with these latter being better tailored to MCR-dependent internalization and trafficking. This suggests that PEG plays a crucial role in directing LNPs toward specific cellular uptake routes. Further studies should explore how PEG-mediated endocytosis impacts intracellular trafficking and ultimately translates to therapeutic efficacy, guiding the design of next-generation LNP delivery systems.