Chapter 1: Nanoparticle Interaction with Plasma Proteins as It Relates to Biodistribution

Whenever nanoparticles (NPs) come into contact with biological fluids, a layer of proteins (“protein corona”) may adsorb onto their surfaces. This corona enshrouds the NPs and largely defines their biological identity. The nature of the corona and the efficiency of its formation can be a decisive factor for the biological response of an organism to NP exposure. Here, we describe methods presently available for determining the composition of the protein corona under physiological conditions and recent findings in this developing field. Mechanistic aspects of protein adsorption to NP surfaces are reviewed in the context of the current literature. Additionally, the effects of protein corona formation on cellular uptake and biodistribution of NPs are discussed. Finally, we comment on the significant role of the protein corona for contemporary nanomedical applications.