Geometry-induced protein reorientation on the spikes of plasmonic gold nanostars

Abstract

Protein orientation changes on side of AuStr's spikes when protein concentration increases but remains unaltered at tips of those spikes.

Probing the Intracellular Bio-Nano Interface in Different Cell Lines with Gold Nanostars

“…As revealed by the SXT data discussed above for the gold nanostars with the shorter tips ( Figure 2 C,D), and suggested by the well-known aggregation also of other types of nanoparticles in the endolysosomal compartment of this cell line [ 31 , 33 ], the absence of bands associated with certain biomolecular species is more likely to occur due to a lack of interaction than due to a diminished enhancement of protein signals. In support of our interpretation of the in vivo data here, it has been demonstrated that changes within a defined shape in the overall morphology, that is, different spike lengths in nanostars, can give rise to protein reorientation in vitro [ 63 ].…”

Gold Nanostars in Biology and Medicine: Understanding Physicochemical Properties to Broaden Applicability

“…Furthermore, the ad hoc ligands bound to the metallic surface for target recognition need to retain their functional properties once constrained into the self-assembled monolayer, which, in the case of gold nanostars, involves variations from positive to negative surface curvature. These variations in surface curvature affect the interaction of the metal with molecules at the surface, in ways that are complex to predict and characterize. , Therefore, accomplishing surface functionalization accurately and quantitatively is far from trivial.…”

“…The role that surface curvature in gold nanostars has on their interactions with molecules has been explored by Ryan and Haes (Figure ). , Ryan and co-workers have, in particular, determined that a conformal layer of Transferrin can be obtained on the side facets of gold nanostar spikes due to molecular rearrangements of the protein in the monolayer, while this result was not obtained at the spike tips, underscoring the role that surface energy plays during these nanoparticle–molecule interactions .…”

“…The role that surface curvature in gold nanostars has on their interactions with molecules has been explored by Ryan and Haes (Figure ). , Ryan and co-workers have, in particular, determined that a conformal layer of Transferrin can be obtained on the side facets of gold nanostar spikes due to molecular rearrangements of the protein in the monolayer, while this result was not obtained at the spike tips, underscoring the role that surface energy plays during these nanoparticle–molecule interactions . The fact that surface curvature affects the properties of the ligand monolayer leading to modifications in oligonucleotide arrangement and protein conformation and structure , has been observed for quite some time, even though some of the intrinsic details are still quite elusive, especially as it concerns the properties of the protein corona, both in vitro and in vivo. , Considering the fact that the protein conformation is strictly correlated to the protein function, when designing and synthesizing gold nanostars for biological and clinical applications we need to be aware that antigen recognition and binding in antibodies might be affected, enzyme performance could be reduced, or biomarker detection may be hampered.…”

“…These variations in surface curvature affect the interaction of the metal with molecules at the surface, in ways that are complex to predict and characterize. 67,68 Therefore, accomplishing surface functionalization accurately and quantitatively is far from trivial.…”