Design, engineering, synthesis and characterization studies provide a suite of approaches to probe use of nanoparticles (NP) in therapeutic applications, such as targeting specific cancer cells. However, evidence suggests the actual size of the NP that interacts with a cell is unknown due to a Protein Corona that forms as the NP interact with biomolecules during transit to targeted cells. The concern raised in this research is whether a Protein Corona induces changes not only in designed-NP size, but also stability and net charge and thus might affect the designed-NP<br/>targeted-cell killing. We use an in vitro cell line-driven biofluid assay (BFA) to mimic and inform in vivo NP- biomolecule interaction. In-house free radical polymerization using an SDS-size-driven synthesis of poly (methyl methacrylate) nanoparticles (PMMA NP) was combined with a BFA of four fluids as NP dispersion media: PMMA-solvent, RPMI-1640, Fetal Bovine Serum/Growth Media (RPMI-1640 +10% FBS) of Jurkat E6.1 T-cell leukemia. Optimal PMMA NP amount was determined by serial 10-fold dilutions of PMMA stock plus Zetasizer-threshold accuracy of zeta potential and concentration. PMMA-NP characterization in BFA dispersion media was studied at 37C/5%CO2 over a 27-hour time-course, then captured as Dynamic Light Scattering size distribution, the zeta potential determinant of PMMA-NP colloid stability and surface charge. Results revealed a 28-30nm PMMA-NP of (-) 21.5 mV, which over the time course in the dispersion media increased size magnitude orders 10-100 fold with fluctuating zeta potential magnitude changes of 1-2 fold. Evidence-based dispersion media biomolecular pH, ionic distribution, conductivity and types of biomolecules data provided theoretical explanations<br/>to validate the observed changes. We conclude that over time biomolecules affect dynamic changes in both PMMA-NP size and colloidal stability. In progress are experiments that investigate effects of this biomolecular behavior on targeted-cell killing of Jurkat T cell leukemia and proposed PMMA NP re-design.

Protein corona formation: Investigating the effects of cell culture growth media on nanoparticle size, stability, and net charge

255th National Meeting (2018)

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