Fig. 5
From: Pharmacokinetics of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for medical applications
The uptake of the MNPs by the macrophages is usually preceded by opsonization, which involves the attachment of specific proteins on the surface of the nanostructures (A). The „stealth” effect of the one of the most popular coating materials: PEG [poly(ethylene glycol) is explained by the high level of hydratation of the hydrophilic polyetherbackbone and its large conformational freedom, which causes the reduction of overall blood plasma protein adsorption and prevents MNPs agglomeration (B). Highly hydrophilic PMSEA [poly(2-(methylsulfinyl)ethyl acrylate] coating turned out to be even more resistant to protein binding as compared to PEG and thereby provides great low-fouling properties (C)