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 t ime and a drug targeting to sites other than the MPS. The adsorption of pro teins on the particles surface after i.v. administration depends on their s urface 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 synt hesized as model colloidal carriers. Physicochemical characterization had b een performed and considerable differences in the protein adsorption patter ns on the particles could be detected by using two-dimensional polyacrylami de gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE). Correlations between physicochemical cha racteristics and the protein adsorption patterns have been found and are di scussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.