Molecular Serum Albumin Unmask Nanobio Properties of Molecular Graphenes in Shungite Carbon Nanoparticles

Abstract

Serum albumin is a popular macromolecule for studying the effect of proteins on the colloidal stability of nanoparticle (NP) dispersions, as well as the protein–nanoparticle interaction and protein corona formation. In this work, we analyze the specific conformation-dependent phase, redox, and fatty acid delivery properties of bovine albumin in the presence of shungite carbon (ShC) molecular graphenes stabilized in aqueous dispersions in the form of NPs in order to reveal the features of NP bioactivity. The formation of NP complexes with proteins (protein corona around NP) affects the transport properties of albumin for the delivery of fatty acids. Being acceptors of electrons and ligands, ShC NPs are capable of exhibiting both their own biological activity and significantly affecting conformational and phase transformations in protein systems.