Surface Functionalization of Nanoparticles with Polyethylene Glycol: Effects on Protein Adsorption and Cellular Uptake

Here we have investigated the effect of enshrouding polymer-coated nanoparticles (NPs) with polyethylene glycol (PEG) on the adsorption of proteins and uptake by cultured cells. PEG was covalently linked to the polymer surface to the maximal grafting density achievable under our experimental conditions. Changes in the effective hydrodynamic radius of the NPs upon adsorption of human serum albumin (HSA) and fibrinogen (FIB) were measured in situ using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. For NPs without a PEG shell, a thickness increase of around 3 nm, corresponding to HSA monolayer adsorption, was measured at high HSA concentration. Only 50% of this value was found for NPs with PEGylated surfaces. While the…

• AV
  Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung
• EC
  European Commission
• H
  Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft
• DF
  Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

  Award: GRK 2039
• MD
  Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad
• ER
  European Research Council

  Award: 239931