Amphiphilic dendrimers control protein binding and corona formation on liposome nanocarriers

Amphiphilic polyphenylene dendrimers (PPDs) with distinct lipophilic and positively or negatively charged surface groups were adsorbed onto liposomes and their impact on protein adsorption in blood plasma was studied. The PPD corona reduced binding of specific opsonins and increased the adsorption of proteins controlling cellular uptake based on their surface patches. Amphiphilic polyphenylene dendrimers adsorbed to liposomes alter the protein corona dependent on their charge and hydrophobicity.