| dc.description.abstract | Nanoparticles (NP) adsorb layers of proteins onto their surface after systemic administration that imparts a unique identity. The protein corona formed on the NPs influences their pharmacokinetics and biodistribution, and ultimately, their drug delivery effectiveness. Thus, understanding the protein corona's role on the in vivo behavior of NPs is necessary to improve their efficiency as a drug delivery platform. Previous studies have indicated a difference between the protein coronas formed on NPs in static and dynamic conditions. However, the effects of the complex vascular geometry of the systemic circulation on the protein corona remain unexplored. In this study, PEGylated gold NPs (AuNP) were synthesized and the effect of different vessel geometries on the protein corona was evaluated. The AuNPs were characterized for their size (dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy) and charge (zeta potential). AuNPs were exposed to plasma in loop and branched vessel configurations of a custom-built dynamic flow system, and the composition of its protein corona was compared to the protein corona on NPs under static conditions through gel electrophoresis. These studies show that the geometry of the systemic circulation impacts the protein corona formed on NPs and could affect their in vivo behavior. | en |
