Quantifying the impact of the mucin protein corona on nanoparticles in the female reproductive tract

Vaginally delivered drugs are ideal for targeting the female reproductive tract. Our previous work used rational engineering to overcome the mucus barrier for effective drug delivery.^{1, 2} However, when nanoparticles enter a biological matrix, biomolecules coat the surface of the particle forming a corona.³ While this corona is well studied in serum, knowledge about the mucus-derived corona is less established. It is vital to evaluate the formation and effects of the mucus protein corona to improve the design of locally delivered nanoparticle therapeutics for the female reproductive tract.