Serum binding test. mPEG2k-NRs (a, 0.52 nM), mPEG5k-NRs (b, 0.52 nM), and branched PEG7k-NRs (c, 0.52 nM) were incubated in mouse serum, and the extinction spectra were monitored for 24 h. The spectrum was first measured in PBS and then in serum after incubation for 5 min, 10 min, 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, and 24 h. A gradual widening of the longitudinal plasmon resonance band was observed for mPEG2k-NRs and mPEG5k-NRs, but not for branched PEG7k-NRs.