Modeling gold nanoparticle biodistribution after arterial infusion into perfused tissue: effects of surface coating, size and protein corona

A detailed understanding of the factors governing nanomaterial biodistribution is needed to rationally design safe nanomedicines. This research details the pharmacokinetics of gold nanoparticle (AuNP) biodistribution after arterial infusion of 40 or 80 nm AuNP (1 μg/ml) into the isolated perfused porcine skin flap (IPPSF). AuNP had surface coatings consisting of neutral polyethylene glycol (PEG), anionic lipoic acid (LA), or cationic branched polyethylenimine (BPEI). Effect of a porcine plasma corona (PPC) on 40 nm BPEI and PEG-AuNP were assessed in the IPPSF. Au concentrations were determined by ICP/MS and arterial to venous concentration-time profiles were analyzed over 8 hr (4 hr infusion, 4 hr washout) using a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model. IPPSF viability and vascular function were assessed by change in glucose utilization, vascular resistance, or weight gain after perfusion. All AuNP demonstrated some degree of AuNP arterial extraction and skin flap retention, as well as enhanced kinetic parameters of tissue uptake; with BPEI-AuNP consistently having the greatest biodistribution even with a PPC. Toxicological effects were not detected. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed intracellular uptake of AuNP. These studies paralleled previous in vitro cell culture studies using the same AuNP in human endothelial and renal proximal tubule cells, hepatocytes, keratinocytes, showing BPEI-AuNP having the greatest uptake, although the presence of a PPC did not reduce IPPSF biodistribution as in the cell culture studies. These findings clearly indicate arterial to the venous extraction of AuNP after infusion with the magnitude of extraction being greatest with the BPEI surface coating and provide data and model structure necessary to construct the whole body physiologically based pharmacokinetic models capable of utilizing available in vitro data