Design and potential application of PEGylated gold nanoparticles with size-dependent permeation through brain microvasculature

Design parameters can influence permeation of nanomaterials through brain microvasculature with subsequent implications for passive targeting of brain tumors. Polyethylene glycol-functionalized gold nanoparticles demonstrated size-dependent permeation through transport-permissive brain microvasculature cells in vitro. In general, core size more than PEG chain size was the most critical permeation parameter. The optimum permeation was associated with the smallest core and PEG chain sizes tested.123