Effects of Surface Protein Adsorption on the Distribution and Retention of Intratumorally Administered Gold Nanoparticles

The heterogeneous distribution of delivery or treatment modalities within the tumor mass is a crucial limiting factor for vast range theranostic applications. Understanding interactions between nanomaterial and microenvironment will help to overcome challenges associated with heterogeneity, as well clinical translation nanotheranostic materials. This study aims evaluate influence protein surface adsorption on gold nanoparticle (GNP) biodistribution using high-resolution computed tomography (CT) preclinical imaging in C57BL/6 mice harboring Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) tumors. LLC provides valuable model due its highly heterogenous nature, which makes drug challenging. By controlling proteins GNP surface, we hypothesize that can intratumoral pattern particle retention. We performed an vitro uptake GNPs by cells vivo assess quantify injecting concentrated citrate-stabilized passivated bovine serum albumin (BSA) intratumorally into solid Quantitative CT inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) results both confirm presence particles 9 days post-injection (n = 8 mice/group). A significant difference highlighted citrate-GNP BSA-GNP groups (** p < 0.005, Tukey’s multiple comparisons test), confirming corona modifies retention particles. In conclusion, our investigations show passivation influences mechanism cellular vivo, highlighting spatial heterogeneity tumor.