Protein uptake into individual hydrogel microspheres visualized by high-speed atomic force microscopy.

The moment of protein uptake into hydrogel microspheres (microgels) was directly monitored at the nanoscale by high-speed atomic force microscopy. The dynamic morphological changes in the microgels during protein uptake are largely different depending on the type of protein, and the properties and structure of the microgels, which would affect the colloidal stability of protein-microgel hybrids both in vitro and in vivo.