Complement activation by PEG-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes is independent of PEG molecular mass and surface density

Carboxylated (4%) multi-walled carbon nanotubes were covalently functionalized with poly(ethylene glycol)₁₀₀₀ (PEG₁₀₀₀), PEG₁₅₀₀ and PEG₄₀₀₀ with a PEG loading of approximately 11% in all cases. PEG loading generated non-uniform and heterogeneous higher surface structures and increased nanotube width considerably, but all PEGylated nanotube species activated the complement system in human serum equally. Increased PEG loading, through adsorption of methoxyPEG₂₀₀₀(or ₅₀₀₀)-phospholipid conjugates, generated fewer complement activation products; however, complement activation was never completely eliminated. Our observations address the difficulty in making carbon nanotubes more compatible with innate immunity through covalent PEG functionalization as well as double PEGylation strategies.

From the clinical editor: Complement-mediated toxicity is a major limiting factor in certain nanomedicine applications. This study clarifies that PEGylation of carbon nanotubes is unlikely to address this complication.