Fig. 1

Nanoparticle characterization data. Representative transmission electron micrographs are given for the 5 differently sized gold nanoparticles that are used in this study. Scale bar in every image is 100 nm. The table below show various parameters for every nanoparticle used. The first parameter is the core diameter (determined by TEM) and analysed by measuring 100 NPs over different images. The second parameter is the hydrodynamic diameter in aqueous environment (determined by DLS in PBS). The third parameter is the polydispersity index (PdI), determined simultaneously by DLS which indicates colloidal stability of the NPs in PBS. The fourth parameter is the ζ-potential, which is the NP surface charge, as measured in PBS. The fifth parameter is the colloidal stability of the NPs in high levels of serum (as determined by NTA in 50% FBS-containing PBS)