Bioinspired Polyethylene Glycol Coatings for Reduced Nanoparticle–Protein Interactions

Nanoparticles (NPs) and other engineered nanomaterials
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 experimental 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.