Regulation of Macrophage Recognition through the Interplay of Nanoparticle Surface Functionality and Protein Corona

Using a family of
cationic gold nanoparticles (NPs) with similar
size and charge, we demonstrate that proper surface engineering can
control the nature and identity of protein corona in physiological
serum conditions. The protein coronas were highly dependent on the
hydrophobicity and arrangement of chemical motifs on NP surface. The
NPs were uptaken in macrophages in a corona-dependent manner, predominantly
through recognition of specific complement proteins in the NP corona.
Taken together, this study shows that surface functionality can be
used to tune the protein corona formed on NP surface, dictating the
interaction of NPs with macrophages.