Fluorine-modified polymers reduce the adsorption of immune-reactive proteins to PEGylated gold nanoparticles

• DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2023-0357
• Publication Date: 2024-04-09T17:11:09Z
• Authors: Helen Forgham; Jiayuan Zhu; Taoran Zhang; Xumin Huang; Xiangke Li; Ao Shen; Heather Biggs; Gert Talbo; Chun Xu; Thomas P Davis; Ruirui Qiao
• Keywords: Mice; Phagocytosis; Polymers; Surface Properties; Metal Nanoparticles; Humans; Animals; Gold; Fluorine; Adsorption; Complement System Proteins; Research Article; Polyethylene Glycols

Aim: To investigate the influence of fluorine in reducing the adsorption of immune-reactive proteins onto PEGylated gold nanoparticles. Methods: Reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization, the Turkevich method and ligand exchange were used to prepare polymer-coated gold nanoparticles. Subsequent in vitro physicochemical and biological characterizations and proteomic analysis were performed. Results: Fluorine-modified polymers reduced the adsorption of complement and other immune-reactive proteins while potentially improving circulatory times and modulating liver toxicity by reducing apolipoprotein E adsorption. Fluorine actively discouraged phagocytosis while encouraging the adsorption of therapeutic targets, CD209 and signaling molecule calreticulin. Conclusion: This study suggests that the addition of fluorine in the surface coating of nanoparticles could lead to improved performance in nanomedicine designed for the intravenous delivery of cargos.