Table 1. Comparison of the Flory Radius (R_F), Grafting Density, Distance between PEG Grafts (D), and Length/Thickness of the PEG Layer (L)^a.

entry	PEG Mw [g mol–1]	chains [nm–2]	RF [nm]	D [nm]	L [nm]	PEG conformation
OVA		0
OVA-PEG2k0.2	2000	0.18	3.4	2.7	3.9	mushroom–brush
OVA-PEG2k0.5	2000	0.54	3.4	1.5	5.7	mushroom–brush
OVA-PEG2k2.5	2000	2.47	3.4	0.7	9.4	dense brush
OVA-PEG3.4k0.2	3400	0.22	4.7	2.4	7.1	brush
OVA-PEG3.4k0.8	3400	0.83	4.7	1.2	11.1	dense brush
OVA-PEG5k0.2	5000	0.19	5.9	2.6	10.0	brush

^aThese parameters were used to predict the PEG conformation according to the model of de Gennes.¹⁷ The interaction of PEG to nanocapsule surface cannot be quantified, and hence, it was not included in the calculation of the PEG conformation using the de Gennes model. We assume a homogeneous, not patchy, distribution of amino groups on the surface of OVA-NCs.