Nanoparticles (NPs) for medical applications are often introduced into the body via intravenous injections, leadin
g to the formation of a protein corona on their surface due to the interaction with blood plasma proteins. Dependin
g on its composition and time evolution, the corona will modify the biolo
gical behavior of the particle. For successful delivery and tar
getin
g, it is therefore important to assess on a quantitative basis how and to what extent the presence of the corona perturbs the specific interaction of a desi
gned NP with its cellular tar
get. We present a theoretical systems-level analysis, in which peptides have been covalently coupled to the surface of nanoparticles, describin
g the delivery success rate in varyin
g conditions, with re
gard to protein composition of the surroundin
g fluid. Dynamic modelin
g and parameter sensitivity analysis proved to be useful and computationally affordable tools to aid in the desi
gn of NPs with increased success rate probability in a biolo
gical context.
From the Clinical Editor
The formation of a protein corona consisting of blood plasma proteins on the surface of intravenously delivered nanoparticles may modify the biological behavior of the particles. This team of investigators present a theoretical systems-level analysis of this important and often neglected phenomenon.