Interactions between circulating nanoengineered polymer particles and extracellular matrix components in vitro

Abstract

The extracellular matrix (ECM) that surrounds cells in vivo represents a biological barrier for nanomaterials in biomedicine. Herein, we present a system for investigating the interactions between circulating polymer particles and ECM components in vitro using a commercially available flow-based device. We use this system to show how material-dependent interactions of two different particle types-one assembled using poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and one prepared using poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA)-affect their interactions with basement membrane extracts during in vitro circulation, with PEG particles remaining in circulation longer than PMA particles. Further, by comparing macroporous hyaluron..