Abstract
Due to their outstanding properties, quantum dots (QDs) received a growing interest in the biomedical field, but it is of major importance to investigate and to understand their interaction with the biomolecules. We examined the stability of silicon QDs and the time evolution of QDs – protein corona formation in various biological media (bovine serum albumin, cell culture medium without or supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum-FBS). Changes in the secondary structure of BSA were also investigated over time. Hydrodynamic size and zeta potential measurements showed an evolution in time indicating the nanoparticle-protein interaction. The protein corona formation was also dependent on time, albumin adsorption reaching the peak level after 1 hour. The silicon QDs adsorbed an important amount of FBS proteins from the first 5 minutes of incubation that was maintained for the next 8 hours, and diminished afterwards. Under protein-free conditions the QDs induced cell membrane damage in a time-dependent manner, however the presence of serum proteins attenuated their hemolytic activity and maintained the integrity of phosphatidylcholine layer. This study provides useful insights regarding the dynamics of BSA adsorption and interaction of silicon QDs with proteins and lipids, in order to understand the role of QDs biocorona.
Highlights
During the last decade, semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have received a tremendous interest in the nanotechnology field, due to their unique advantages provided by optical and electrical properties[1]
We aimed to provide a deeper understanding of nanoparticles behavior in biological systems by evaluating the changes of QDs’ physicochemical parameters in various biological media over time and by investigating the time evolution of silicon-based QDs_protein corona formation and its effect on cell membrane integrity, aspects important for the design of strategies able to prevent QDs’ toxicity
The hydrodynamic size (Fig. 1a) and zeta potential (Fig. 1b) of Si/SiO2 QDs were assessed to provide their physicochemical behavior in various biological media
Summary
Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have received a tremendous interest in the nanotechnology field, due to their unique advantages provided by optical and electrical properties[1]. The increased number of reports on QDs biological use in diagnostic, drug delivery and cellular imaging applications[2,3] has triggered various questions concerning their interactions with cells in the physiological environment. The new biological identity can modify the nanoparticles size, zeta potential and colloidal stability and can influence subsequent physiological responses, such as interaction with cell membranes, cellular uptake, transport, accumulation and cytotoxicity[7]. We aimed to provide a deeper understanding of nanoparticles behavior in biological systems by evaluating the changes of QDs’ physicochemical parameters in various biological media over time and by investigating the time evolution of silicon-based QDs_protein corona formation and its effect on cell membrane integrity, aspects important for the design of strategies able to prevent QDs’ toxicity
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