Abstract
Nanoparticles (NPs) in contact with a biological medium are rapidly comprehended by a number of protein molecules resulting in the formation of an NP–protein complex called protein corona (PC). The cell sees the protein-coated NPs as the synthetic identity is masked by protein surfacing. The PC formation ultimately has a substantial impact on various biological processes including drug release, drug targeting, cell recognition, biodistribution, cellular uptake, and therapeutic efficacy. Further, the composition of PC is largely influenced by the physico-chemical properties of NPs viz. the size, shape, surface charge, and surface chemistry in the biological milieu. However, the change in the biological responses of the new substrate depends on the quantity of protein access by the NPs. The PC-layered NPs act as new biological entities and are recognized as different targeting agents for the receptor-mediated ingress of therapeutics in the biological cells. The corona-enveloped NPs have both pros and cons in the biological system. The review provides a brief insight into the impact of biomolecules on nanomaterials carrying cargos and their ultimate fate in the biological milieu.
Highlights
The database access on PubMed makes it easy to judge a relevant scientific theme of important concern
The magnetic separation of corona from the NP complex is similar to the centrifugation process; the only additional step is the analysis of the surface adsorbed protein via liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) [22]
A report showed that the PEGylated gold NPs of size 30 nm incubated in plasma at room temperature and 37 ◦ C showed that the concentration of proteins recovered decreased with an increase in time from 5 to 60 min
Summary
The database access on PubMed makes it easy to judge a relevant scientific theme of important concern. For decades there has been a steadily growing interest in the analysis of nanomaterials in biological fluid to trace the true molecular structure as expected during the preparation This is valuable for nanotechnology and for biomedical and theranostic application. Biomedicines 2021, 9, 1496 that the surface of NPs alters due to the adsorption of protein, lipids, and biomolecules post-incubation in biological fluid. The PEG-modified surface of the NPs retained colloidal stability in physiological fluid with reduced protein adsorption, less opsonization by RES, improved circulation, and biodistribution. Despite the interaction between the polymer and silica NPs, the protein coating to the NPs surface was not prevented and had the least possible influence on PC formation when they incubated with blood plasma. Compared to a decade ago, the publications covering the identity of NPs in biological systems and the concept of corona have increased 15-fold. In-depth studies are required to better understand the biological modification of nanocarriers, their composition, and the structural integrity of nanocarriers due to corona particles [16]
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