Bioinspired Polyethylene Glycol Coatings for Reduced Nanoparticle-Protein Interactions

Nanoparticles (NPs) and other engineered nano -materials have great potential as nanodrugs or nanomedical devices for biomedical applications. However, the adsorption of proteins in blood circulation or similar physiological fluids can significantly alter the surface properties and therapeutic response induced by most nanomaterials. For example, interaction with proteins can change the bloodstream circulation time and availability of therapeutic NPs or hinder the accumulation in their desired target organs. Proteins can also trigger or prevent agglomeration. By combining exper-imental and computational approaches, we have developed NPs carrying polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymeric coatings that mimic the surface charge distribution of proteins typically found in blood, which are known to show low aggregation under normal blood conditions. Here, we show that NPs with coatings based on apoferritin or human serum albumin display better antifouling properties and weaker protein interaction compared to similar NPs carrying conventional PEG polymeric coatings.

Automated summary

Nanoparticles and other nano-materials have potential as nanodrugs or nanomedical devices, but their therapeutic response can be significantly affected by protein adsorption. By combining experimental and computational approaches, we have developed nanoparticles with polyethylene glycol (PEG) coatings that mimic the surface charge distribution of proteins in blood, showing low aggregation under normal blood conditions.