Influence of PEGylation and Surface Charge on Biodistribution of Shortwave Infrared Emitting Nanoparticles for In Vivo Bioimaging
Abstract
Nanoparticles (NPs) that are both bright in the shortwave infrared (SWIR, 1000-1700 nm) window and stable in complex biological environments are critical for advancing deep-tissue in vivo imaging. Yet, their development is hampered because strategies to confer stealth properties often compromise optical performance. Here, we apply a holistic approach, taking into account physical-chemical and photophysical properties of gold nanoclusters loaded polymeric nanoparticles (AuNCpNPs) and their interactions with biomolecules, to create a class of SWIR contrast agents combining very high brightness and stealth properties. Two PEGylation strategies are compared: post-assembly coating of preformed AuNCpNPs with amphiphilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) containing polymers (Pluronic) and direct assembly of AuNCpNPs from PEG containing block copolymers. Both approaches imparted stealth properties to AuNCpNPs in vitro, as assessed using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. However, studying in vivo pharmacokinetics revealed a strong increase in the circulation time of NPs obtained through simple adsorption of Pluronic. Comparison of the surface properties highlight the importance of the surface potential of the NPs over the PEG molecular weight or grafting density for the obtention of stealth properties. In vivo blood vessel imaging at the whole animal level in the SWIR region proved the high potential of the so obtained AuNCpNPs for advanced bioimaging applications.
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BibTeX
@article{haye2026influence,
title = {{Influence of PEGylation and Surface Charge on Biodistribution of Shortwave Infrared Emitting Nanoparticles for In Vivo Bioimaging}},
author = {Lucie Haye and Maxime Henry and Véronique Josserand and Furhan Abdul Rezak and Alberto Olave Velasco and Sule Erbek and Vladimir Baulin and Andrey Klymchenko and Xavier Le Guével and Andreas Reisch},
journal = {ACS Applied Nano Materials},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1021/acsanm.5c05429},
url = {https://univ-grenoble-alpes.hal.science/hal-05785412v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Influence of PEGylation and Surface Charge on Biodistribution of Shortwave Infrared Emitting Nanoparticles for In Vivo Bioimaging
AU - Lucie Haye
AU - Maxime Henry
AU - Véronique Josserand
AU - Furhan Abdul Rezak
AU - Alberto Olave Velasco
AU - Sule Erbek
AU - Vladimir Baulin
AU - Andrey Klymchenko
AU - Xavier Le Guével
AU - Andreas Reisch
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/08
JO - ACS Applied Nano Materials
DO - 10.1021/acsanm.5c05429
UR - https://univ-grenoble-alpes.hal.science/hal-05785412v1
AB - Nanoparticles (NPs) that are both bright in the shortwave infrared (SWIR, 1000-1700 nm) window and stable in complex biological environments are critical for advancing deep-tissue in vivo imaging. Yet, their development is hampered because strategies to confer stealth properties often compromise optical performance. Here, we apply a holistic approach, taking into account physical-chemical and photophysical properties of gold nanoclusters loaded polymeric nanoparticles (AuNCpNPs) and their interactions with biomolecules, to create a class of SWIR contrast agents combining very high brightness and stealth properties. Two PEGylation strategies are compared: post-assembly coating of preformed AuNCpNPs with amphiphilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) containing polymers (Pluronic) and direct assembly of AuNCpNPs from PEG containing block copolymers. Both approaches imparted stealth properties to AuNCpNPs in vitro, as assessed using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. However, studying in vivo pharmacokinetics revealed a strong increase in the circulation time of NPs obtained through simple adsorption of Pluronic. Comparison of the surface properties highlight the importance of the surface potential of the NPs over the PEG molecular weight or grafting density for the obtention of stealth properties. In vivo blood vessel imaging at the whole animal level in the SWIR region proved the high potential of the so obtained AuNCpNPs for advanced bioimaging applications.
SN - 2574-0970
ER -