Biosafety and Bioapplication of Nanomaterials by Designing Protein–Nanoparticle Interactions

Abstract

The protein-nanoparticle (NP) interface is a current frontier of multiple disciplines, full of challenges and opportunities. The unique behaviors of nanomaterials (NMs) bring many exciting applications, and also raise safety concerns. Beyond bioapplications, various NMs could also enter human bodies from the environment. When entering human bodies, NPs interact with various biomolecules, especially proteins, forming a protein corona. This protein-NP complex is what the biosystems 'see' and 'respond to'. Therefore, understanding how NPs interact with proteins is crucial for both bioapplications and the biosafety of NMs. In this review, the current understanding of protein-NP interactions is summarized, including the theoretical background, experimental results, and computational progresses. Guidelines for improving bioapplication performance and reducing the potential biosafety hazard of NMs by designing the protein-NP interactions are discussed, along with future directions and challenges in this exciting field.

Multifunctional Silica Nanoparticles for Covalent Immobilization of Highly Sensitive Proteins

“…[1][2][3] Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) are often used in life-sciences because they are readily available in various sizes, their surface can be functionalized with arbitrary components using established silane chemistry, their interior can be used for encapsulation of numerous compounds including small molecules, proteins, or nucleic acids for targeted application, and importantly, they reveal a very low cytotoxicity. It is therefore not surprising that SiNPs have already been used and are currently refi ned as intracellular drug delivery vehicles.…”

Effect of the protein corona on nanoparticles for modulating cytotoxicity and immunotoxicity

“…The majority of previous studies focused on understanding protein corona composition affected by NP properties, such as size, charge, and surface modification. [17][18][19][20][21] Moreover, several studies have attempted to address the toxicity associated with various routes of NP administration. 22,23 As such, few guidelines have been established and even fewer studies have been conducted to understand how protein coronas on nanomaterials are triggering NP toxicity.…”

Pluronic polymer capped biocompatible mesoporous silica nanocarriers

“…8,9 Also, rapid aggregation of silica based nanoparticles in biological media can result in mechanical obstruction in the capillary vessels of several vital organs, leading to organ failure and even death. 10,11 Therefore, replacing the surface silanol groups with biocompatible molecules is essential to improve the biocompatibility of MSNs. Among numerous polymeric or organosilane surface modification ligands, polyethylene glycol (PEG) is the mostly used one due to its well established biocompatibility, hydrophilicity, and antifouling properties.…”