Abstract
BackgroundNanoparticle-protein corona complex formation involves absorption of protein molecules onto nanoparticle surfaces in a physiological environment. Understanding the corona formation process is crucial in predicting nanoparticle behavior in biological systems, including applications of nanotoxicology and development of nano drug delivery platforms.MethodThis paper extends the modeling work in to derive a mathematical model describing the dynamics of nanoparticle corona complex formation from population balance equations. We apply nonlinear dynamics techniques to derive analytical results for the composition of nanoparticle-protein corona complex, and validate our results through numerical simulations.ResultsThe model presented in this paper exhibits two phases of corona complex dynamics. In the first phase, proteins rapidly bind to the free surface of nanoparticles, leading to a metastable composition. During the second phase, continuous association and dissociation of protein molecules with nanoparticles slowly changes the composition of the corona complex. Given sufficient time, composition of the corona complex reaches an equilibrium state of stable composition. We find analytical approximate formulae for metastable and stable compositions of corona complex. Our formulae are very well-structured to clearly identify important parameters determining corona composition.ConclusionThe dynamics of biocorona formation constitute vital aspect of interactions between nanoparticles and living organisms. Our results further understanding of these dynamics through quantitation of experimental conditions, modeling results for in vitro systems to better predict behavior for in vivo systems. One potential application would involve a single cell culture medium related to a complex protein medium, such as blood or tissue fluid.
Highlights
Corona complex composition greatly influences the ability of nanoparticles to deliver drugs to specific receptors, as well as to modulate their toxicity
The model presented in this paper exhibits two phases of corona complex dynamics
Continuous association and dissociation of protein molecules with nanoparticles slowly changes the composition of the corona complex
Summary
Corona complex composition greatly influences the ability of nanoparticles to deliver drugs to specific receptors, as well as to modulate their toxicity. Proteins compete with other biomolecules to surround nanoparticles, forming protein coronae, defining the biological fingerprint of the particles [2,3,4]. Corona formation is complex, contingent upon protein molecule type, size, and conformational flexibility, nanoparticle type, size, shape, electric charge, and hydrophobicity, as well as medium-related factors (e.g., pH and ionic strength) [2,5,6]. Recent comprehensive surveys present information about the nanoparticle corona formation process ([3,6]). Quantitation and prediction of corona formation is vital for standardized safe medical use of nanoparticles. Understanding the corona formation process is crucial in predicting nanoparticle behavior in biological systems, including applications of nanotoxicology and development of nano drug delivery platforms
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