Understating the Nanoparticle ‘Biomolecule Corona’

We investigate the spontaneous adsorption of blood molecules (proteins, lipids, nucleic acids etc.) onto the nanoparticle surface, a self-assembled phenomenon known as the ‘biomolecule corona’ formation.

Our team has developed protocols to analyse the molecular composition of the ‘ex vivo’ and ‘in vivo’ biomolecule coronas, upon incubation of nanoparticles (lipid-, carbon- and metal-based) with biological fluids (e.g. plasma) or upon their intravenous administration in animal models, respectively. Our work has provided the first in vivo experimental evidence of the existence of a molecularly rich biomolecule corona around blood-circulating nanoparticles in humans. We aim to examine the multi-molecular composition of the biomolecule corona in different biofluids and to understand how it affects the overall clinical performance of nanoparticles.