Mass transport of drug delivery vehicles is guided by particle geometry, size, composition, and surface charge, as well as serum proteins that absorb to the surface of the particles. Serum proteins absorbed to negatively-charged porous silicon microparticles included apolipoproteins A and E, while albumin and fibrinogen were recovered from the surface of positively charged microparticles. Serum opsonization did not alter cellular uptake of positive microparticles by endothelial cells, however, uptake of negative microparticles was reduced in the presence of serum proteins. Negative microparticles accumulated in the liver and spleen of mice equally, while positive microparticles showed a preference for localization in the spleen as compared to the liver. Particle surface charge is one mechanism to modulate binding to serum proteins, leading to selective uptake by specific cell populations.
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