Involvement of neutrophilic granulocytes in the uptake of biodegradable non-stealth and stealth nanoparticles in guinea pig

The in vivo behavior of monomethoxypoly(ethylene oxide)-poly(lactic acid) (MPEO20-PLA45/PLA (75/25)) nanoparticles in comparison with PLA ones was studied in guinea pig. Indeed, the aim of this study was to bring to the fore the in vivo stealth character of these copolymer nanoparticles and to identify the phagocytic circulating cells involved in their uptake. After the intravascular administration of fluorescent nanoparticles (rubrene), their phagocytosis by granulocytes and monocytes was assayed by flow cytometry. At the same time, the evolution of the number of these phagocytic cells was realized in order to identify their function in the nanoparticle uptake. Finally, a histological study of the spleen (30 h after the nanoparticle administration) was investigated to highlight the splenic trapping of these stealth nanoparticles. This study has shown that the phagocytic circulating cells involved in the nanoparticle uptake were mainly neutrophilic granulocytes and some of them were found in the spleen.