Targeting of Intravenous Polymeric Nanoparticles by Differential Protein Adsorption

Summary The organ distribution of intravenously injected nanoparticles is determined by the composition of the blood protein adsorption pattern occurring after injection. This is exploited in the concept of “differential protein adsorption” for drug targeting, which is briefly discussed. The surface properties of the nanoparticles determine the adsorption patterns, by controlling the surface properties one can generate adsorption patterns required for achieving the desired organ distribution. The efficiency of this principle is shown by reviewing different organ distributions achieved using various polymeric nanoparticles with different surface properties. Surface modification can be obtained by polymer adsorption and can create nanoparticles circulating in the blood, or accumulating in targets such as bone marrow and brain. The protein adsorption patterns were analyzed using two‐dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2‐D PAGE). Here, adsorption patterns of dendritic polymer nanoparticles were investigated, where the used polymer was dendritic polyglycerol sulfate. They showed reduced opsonization and preferential adsorption of apolipoprotein A‐I with brain targeting potential. In perspective, the principle of surface property modification by polymer/stabilizer adsorption can be transferred to intravenous drug nanocrystals. A hybrid system of nanocrystal and polymeric nanoparticles is suggested, the polymeric nanoparticle with nanocrystal core.