Effect of Protein Corona on Silver Nanoparticle Stabilization and Ion Release Kinetics in Artificial Seawater

Abstract

In parallel with the growing use of nanoparticle-containing products, their release into the environment over the coming years is expected to increase significantly. With many large population centers located in near-coastal areas, and increasing evidence that various nanoparticles may be toxic to a range of organisms, biota in estuarine and coastal waters may be particularly vulnerable. While size effects may be important in cases, silver nanoparticles have been found to be toxic in large part due to their release of silver ions. However, there is relatively little data available on how nanoparticle coatings can affect silver ion release in estuarine or marine waters. We have found that albumin, as a model for biocorona-forming macromolecules which nanoparticles may encounter in wastewater streams, stabilizes silver colloids from agglomeration in high salinity marine waters by electrosteric repulsion for long time periods. A minimum mass ratio of about 130 for albumin:silver nanoparticles (40 nm) was required for stable dispersion in seawater. Increasing albumin concentration was also found to reduce dissolution of nanoparticles in seawater with up to 3.3 times lower concentrations of silver ions noted. Persistent colloids and slow sustained ion release may have important consequences for biota in these environmental compartments.

Handling (Nano)Silver as Antimicrobial Agent: Therapeutic Window, Dissolution Dynamics, Detection Methods and Molecular Interactions

“…Levak et al. found reduced release rates for Ag particles in presence of albumin in seawater with high salinity, thus suggesting a very high persistence of AgNPs if stabilized by proteins, which also lead to a decrease of the toxicity as removal of serum proteins significantly increases their impact . Citrate‐capped AgNPs used in the same study did not show this effect.…”

Biosynthesis of Au, Ag and Au&ndash;Ag bimetallic nanoparticles using protein extracts of <em>Deinococcus radiodurans</em> and evaluation of their cytotoxicity

“…This characteristic could contribute to the small release of the metal from the Drp-NPs. 60 Second, the controlled synthetic process of NPs could be rationally realized because the adsorption ability of proteins composed of a wide selection of amino acids is adjustable. The synthesis of NPs by proteins can be performed at room temperature in aqueous solution; however, the polysaccharide-based synthesis of NPs needs a high temperature to increase the solubility of polysaccharides, which could lead to the reduction of metal precursors prior to complexation between polysaccharides and precursors.…”

“…61 The low release of Drp-AgNPs could be attributed to the strong binding affinity of AgNPs to proteins and this resulted in the formation of large NPs. 60 MTS assay using the human breast epithelial cell line MCF-10A was utilized to examine the cytotoxic effect of prepared NPs. Figure 10A shows that cell viability of MCF-10A decreased with the increase in the concentration of Drp-AuNPs, Drp-AgNPs and Au-Ag bimetallic NPs.…”

<p>Functionalized Gold and Silver Bimetallic Nanoparticles Using <em>Deinococcus radiodurans</em> Protein Extract Mediate Degradation of Toxic Dye Malachite Green</p>

“…44,48 The Ag release of Drp-Au-AgNPs was lower than previously reported AgNPs, 52 indicating a stronger binding affinity of metals to proteins. 53 The characterized Drp-Au-AgNPs were used in the following MG detoxification.…”