Cell “vision”: complementary factor of protein corona in nanotoxicology

Abstract

Engineered nanoparticles are increasingly being considered for use as biosensors, imaging agents and drug delivery vehicles. Their versatility in design and applications make them an attractive proposition for new biological and biomedical approaches. Despite the remarkable speed of development in nanoscience, relatively little is known about the interaction of nanoscale objects with living systems. In a biological fluid, proteins associate with nanoparticles, and the amount and the presentation of the proteins on their surface could lead to a different in vivo response than an uncoated particle. Here, in addition to protein adsorption, we are going to introduce concept of cell "vision", which would be recognized as another crucial factor that should be considered for the safe design of any type of nanoparticles that will be used in specific biomedical applications. The impact of exactly the same nanoparticles on various cells is significantly different and could not be assumed for other cells; the possible mechanisms that justify this cellular response relate to the numerous detoxification strategies that any particular cell can utilize in response to nanoparticles. The uptake and defence mechanism could be considerably different according to the cell type. Thus, what the cell "sees", when it is faced with nanoparticles, is most likely dependent on the cell type.

Long term biotransformation and toxicity of dimercaptosuccinic acid-coated magnetic nanoparticles support their use in biomedical applications

“…These contradictory results are closely related to a concept known as "cell vision", refering to the contact point between nanoparticles and cells. Nanoparticles reach the plasma membrane of cells, which has a different composition depending on the cell type, and determine the "vision" that the cell has for these materials, and the effects that nanoparticles exert on the cell [17][18][19][20]. For this reason, it is necessary to analyze each nanoparticle type on an appropriate cell line.…”

Internalization of (bis)phosphonate-modified cellulose nanocrystals by human osteoblast cells

“…phagocytosis, endocytosis, etc. ), the cell-nanoparticle interactions are modulated mostly by the respective nanoparticle size, shape, surface charge and surface chemistry (Verma and Stellacci 2010), as well as differing according to the type of used cells and the fraction of these in the respective cell cycle phase they are in during the experiment (Mahmoudi et al 2012). Considering this, a relevant and complementary characterization methodology was applied before the cell testing.…”

“…Various nanoparticles (NPs) have been considered increasingly in the last decade for their usage as biosensors, imaging agents and drug delivery vehicles (Mahmoudi et al 2012). Most of these applications require successful internalization of NPs into the targeted cells, therefore, deep understanding of the interactions between NP and biomolecules/cell membrane is an important prerequisite for designing and engineering NPs with intentionally enhanced or suppressed cellular uptake.…”

Closing the gap: accelerating the translational process in nanomedicine by proposing standardized characterization techniques

“…32,84 However, the complement protein C3 was found to bind covalently to other serum proteins only after they had formed a primary adsorption layer. 85 …”

“…The most prominent group of proteins in this process is the complement family, which have been found in a number of different studies to adsorb to nanomaterials that have not been properly coated with PEG to repel protein interactions. 54,70,85,86,97 Although many proteins are actively involved in the clearance process in blood, if the nanocarrier has a neutral charge it might bypass activation of the complement system. 89 Recently, it was found that denatured albumin, which forms a hard corona on nanomaterials, is directly involved in clearance of nanomaterials from the blood.…”