Bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide) binds to the surface of gold nanoparticles, interferes with biocorona formation and induces human monocyte inflammatory activation.

Nanoparticles (NPs) are easily contaminated by bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]). The presence of LPS can be responsible for many immune/inflammatory effects attributed to NPs. In this study, we examined the effects of LPS adsorption on the NP surface on the formation of a biocorona in biological fluids and on the subsequent inflammation-inducing activity of NPs.