Release, transfer and partition of fluorescent dyes from polymeric nanocarriers to serum proteins monitored by asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation

•The AF4 technique is an important tool to study the release, transfer, and partition of fluorescent dyes from polymeric nanoparticles.•Physically encapsulated dyes can be transferred from nanoparticles to proteins present in the medium.•The transfer is related to the dyes physicochemical properties such as lipophilicity.•AF4 elution conditions are mild enough to maintain dye-protein complexes stable.•Proteins mediate dye release from nanoparticles as evidenced by AF4.