Fig. 5.

Potential factors influencing nanoparticle aggregation after adding diluted plasma samples; (A) Distribution of total protein concentration values for ICU and ward patients; (B) Correlation plot comparing the total protein concentration and PI_dil; (C) Distribution of albumin levels for ICU and ward patients; (D) Correlation plot comparing the albumin concentration and PI_dil; (E) Extinction spectra of gold nanoparticles after adding 3 diluted ICU (red) and 3 ward (black) samples covering the whole dilution range shown in Fig. 3. Data in A and C are expressed as median with percentiles 25th and 75th. Mann-Whitey test proved non-significant (n.s.) statistical differences. P_dil; pixel intensity at plasma dilution 1:31250.