Toward the Specificity of Bare Nanomaterial Surfaces for Protein Corona Formation

Abstract

Aiming at creating smart nanomaterials for biomedical applications, nanotechnology aspires to develop a new generation of nanomaterials with the ability to recognize different biological components in a complex environment. It is common opinion that nanomaterials must be coated with organic or inorganic layers as a mandatory prerequisite for applications in biological systems. Thus, it is the nanomaterial surface coating that predominantly controls the nanomaterial fate in the biological environment. In the last decades, interdisciplinary studies involving not only life sciences, but all branches of scientific research, provided hints for obtaining uncoated inorganic materials able to interact with biological systems with high complexity and selectivity. Herein, the fragmentary literature on the interactions between bare abiotic materials and biological components is reviewed. Moreover, the most relevant examples of selective binding and the conceptualization of the general principles behind recognition mechanisms were provided. Nanoparticle features, such as crystalline facets, density and distribution of surface chemical groups, and surface roughness and topography were encompassed for deepening the comprehension of the general concept of recognition patterns.

Competition at the Bio-nano Interface: A Protein, a Polysaccharide, and a Fatty Acid Adsorb onto Magnetic Nanoparticles

“…This study is aligned with research devoted to determining if selectivity is possible with bare, nonfunctionalized materials, which we seek to exploit as a versatile, low-cost separation platform in the field of life sciences. Other researchers have demonstrated selectivity on naked iron oxides obtained through the chelation of undercoordinated metal sites on the solid surface and through the mere presence of carboxylic groups on proteins. , …”

“…Other researchers have demonstrated selectivity on naked iron oxides obtained through the chelation of undercoordinated metal sites on the solid surface and through the mere presence of carboxylic groups on proteins. 29,30 Here, we study the corona formation using bare iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles and a model mixture which includes representatives of the three most abundant types of biomolecules (one protein, one lipid, and one sugar), in our experiments, bovine serum albumin (BSA), sodium oleate (SO), and dextran. We selected these three molecules because they are highly soluble (to avoid the influence of solubility on the solid− liquid partitioning); all three have been investigated by researchers in studies focusing on their adsorption onto iron oxide nanoparticles, either as a standard or for their special properties as a coating; 31−33 and all three molecules are typically found in biological systems, 34−36 e.g., in concentrations of 0.4 g L −1 BSA in whey, 37 from 35 to 50 g L −1 serum albumin (molecule similar to BSA) in human serum, 38 from 0.02 to 0.07 g L −1 (%dw) oleic acid in different microalgae species, 39 and from 0.2 to 32 g L −1 for dextran, depending on the microorganism and the cultivation conditions.…”

Biocorona on Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in a Complex Biotechnological Environment: Analysis of Proteins, Lipids, and Carbohydrates

“…The three main classes of biomolecules adsorb onto BIONs: due to the tendency of nanoparticles to minimize their surface energy, they attract biological molecules. [3] The ratio of particles to biomass was varied from 0.125 to 10 to determine the influence of the surface area available in the loading capacities and to elucidate whether the concentration profile of the solid support and the molecules modifies partitioning. Note that complete adsorption of proteins and lipids appears achievable, whereas, for polysaccharides, incredibly high particle concentrations are necessary to adsorb most of them onto the solid support.…”

Comprehensive Review on the Interactions of Clay Minerals With Animal Physiology and Production

“…Moreover, digestive enzymes, microbiota and interactions with biomolecules, such as bile acids, can modify particle surfaces, affecting their colloidal behavior ( 31 ) and their ability to interact with cells. Note that when nanomaterials are dispersed into biological fluids, they are rapidly coated by biomolecules ( 72 ). This coating, called corona, influence nanoparticle adhesion to the plasma membrane and, as an example, can alter cellular uptake by human adenocarcinoma alveolar basal epithelial A549 cells ( 73 ).…”