Role of protein corona on nanoparticle-mediated organ and cell-targeted delivery

Nanomaterials hold a significant promise as multifunctional theragnostic agents for various human diseases. However, its versatile nature tends to interact with biomolecules, like proteins, in the circulatory systems of the human body, thus forming the so-called “Protein corona” (PC). The formation of PC has profound biological and toxicological effects which dictate the fate of the nanoparticles (NPs) for biomedical applications. Understanding PC formation using various analytical tools may help to design and optimize nanoparticles for future clinical applications. In this article, the role of PC on nanoparticles and its significance in targeted delivery towards specific organs and cells are discussed in detail.