FBS contains most proteins in the blood and small molecules that regulate life activities [
39]. It would be of great help for the design and preparation of DOX@NM to clarify which substance in serum contributes most to micellar disassemble. We experimented to find out effects of proteins on the stability of DOX@NM. Albumin and globulin are selected for they are the most important protein components, accounting for 60% and 30% of total blood proteins, respectively [
40,
41]. Due to the technical limitations of separation and purification, it is nearly impossible to obtain a single
α- or
β-pure product. So,
α-/
β-mixed globulin and
γ-globulin were used in this experiment. First, albumin and DOX@NM were co-cultured for 24 h, respectively. The fluorescence intensity increased by 3% at 590 nm (Ex under 480 nm) and decreased by 7% at 460 nm (Ex under 330 nm). For
α-/
β-globulin and DOX@NM system, the fluorescence intensity was enhanced by 15% at 590 nm, and decreased by 18% at 460 nm. The fluorescence of DOX@NM of both systems at 590 nm/460 nm is around 0.3 and 0.8. Both are much less than 4 (Fig. S18 in Supporting information). According to the DOX@NM status coordinate (
Fig. 2D), albumin and
α-/
β-globulin might not be able to make DOX@NM disassemble obviously. Interestingly, for
γ-globulin and DOX@NM system, the fluorescence intensities increased by 400% at 590 nm and decreased by 50% at 460 nm, which is much different from the albumin or
α-/
β-globulin, indicating
γ-globulin interacts with DOX@NM much more actively. The fluorescence of DOX@NM at 590 nm/460 nm changes in a ‘seesaw-like’ behavior when DOX@NM interacts with
γ-globulin (
Figs. 4A and
B). In about 5 h, the ratio of 590 nm/460 nm was increased to 10, as shown in
Fig. 4C. From the DOX@NM status coordinate (
Fig. 2D),
γ-globulin made DOX@NM disassembled. Then, the interaction of DOX@NM with proteins were studied by gel electrophoresis, and Coomassie dye was used for color development (
Fig. 4D). Reference bands were measured as: a, protein marker; b, albumin; c,
α-/
β-globulin; d,
γ-globulin; e, NM; f, DOX@NM. We incubated the DOX@NM with albumin,
α-/
β-globulin and
γ-globulin. After separation from free proteins by ultra-high-speed centrifugation, samples were obtained in the upper solution phase. After gel electrophoresis, bands could be observed in (i) DOX@NM +
γ-globulin, but not in (h) DOX@NM +
α-/
β-globulin or (g) DOX@NM + albumin. While in the group (i), the bands were dyed, consistent with those of pure
γ-globulin (d). This indicates that DOX@NM could interact with
γ-globulin. It is known that
α- and
β- globulins mostly play act as enzymes, while
γ globulins act as immunoglobulins.
γ-Globulins’ immune-related properties were believed to lead to a strong interaction with DOX@NM. The assumptions were supported by circular dichroism results (Fig. S19 in Supporting information).