Surface chemistry and serum type both determine the nanoparticle-protein corona.
The protein corona that forms around nanoparticles in vivo is a critical factor that affects their physiological response. The potential to manipulate nanoparticle characteristics such that either proteins advantageous for delivery are recruited and/or detrimental proteins are avoided offers exciting possibilities for improving drug delivery. In this work, we used nanoliquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry to characterize the corona of five lipid formulations after incubation in mouse and human plasma with the hope of providing data that may contribute to a better understanding of the role played by both the nanoparticle properties and the physiological environment in recruiting specific proteins to the corona. Notably, we showed that minor changes in the lipid composition might critically affect the protein corona composition demonstrating that the surface chemistry and arrangement of lipid functional groups are key players that regulate the liposome-protein interactions. Notably, we provided evidence that the protein corona that forms around liposomes is strongly affected by the physiological environment, i.e., the serum type. These results are likely to suggest that the translation of novel pharmaceutical formulations from animal models to the clinic must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.


CONCLUSIONS
In the present work nanoliquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was used to characterize the protein corona of five different liposome formulations after exposure to mouse and human plasma. The modern proteomic methods employed have clarified that the arrangement of lipid functional groups is a key player that regulates the liposome-protein interactions. We also clarified that the protein corona enrichment and complexity depend on the serum type. Our results suggest that the translational of novel pharmaceutical formulations from animal models to the clinic must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Daniela
D
Pozzi
Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: giulio.caracciolo@uniroma1.it.
Giulio
G
Caracciolo
Department of Chemistry, "Sapienza" University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Anna Laura
AL
Capriotti
Department of Chemistry, "Sapienza" University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Chiara
C
Cavaliere
Department of Chemistry, "Sapienza" University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Giorgia
G
La Barbera
Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12850 E. Montview Blvd., Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
Thomas J
TJ
Anchordoquy
Department of Chemistry, "Sapienza" University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Aldo
A
Laganà
D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008081:Liposomes; D051379:Mice; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
D001798:Blood Proteins; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008055:Lipids; D008081:Liposomes
Human plasma; Liposomes; Mouse plasma; Nanoliquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry; Nanoparticles; Protein corona