Enrichment of immunoregulatory proteins in the biomolecular corona of nanoparticles within human respiratory tract lining fluid

When inhaled nanoparticles deposit in the lungs, they transit through respiratory tract lining fluid (RTLF) acquiring a biomolecular corona reflecting the interaction of the RTLF with the nanomaterial surface. Label-free snapshot proteomics was used to generate semi-quantitative profiles of corona proteins formed around silica (SiO₂) and poly(vinyl) acetate (PVAc) nanoparticles in RTLF, the latter employed as an archetype drug delivery vehicle. The evolved PVAc corona was significantly enriched compared to that observed on SiO₂ nanoparticles (698 vs. 429 proteins identified); however both coronas contained a substantial contribution from innate immunity proteins, including surfactant protein A, napsin A and complement (C1q and C3) proteins. Functional protein classification supports the hypothesis that corona formation in RTLF constitutes opsonisation, preparing particles for phagocytosis and clearance from the lungs. These data highlight how an understanding of the evolved corona is necessary for the design of inhaled nanomedicines with acceptable safety and tailored clearance profiles.