When nanoparticles are introduced into biological environments such as blood, serum, and inside cells, the proteins and small molecules that are present adsorb to the nanoparticle surface, forming a cloud, or “protein corona.” The protein corona forms inevitably, and surface functionalization even with molecules that are supposedly non-fouling cannot prevent it. The protein corona is complex, where proteins are dynamically exchanging on and off the nanoparticle surface. While the scientific community is still trying to understand the behavior of protein coronas, we now know that it changes with environment, evolves with time, and varies with nanoparticle physical and chemical properties.

We are developing new nanoparticles with interesting properties to control the formation of the biological corona.