Interaction between Human Serum Albumin and Different Anatase TiO2 Nanoparticles: A Nano-bio Interface Study

Viviana Vergaro,Claudia Carlucci,Cinzia Citti,Caterina Lorusso,Giuseppe Cannazza,Barbara Federica Scremin,Giuseppe Ciccarella,Francesca Conciauro,Paolo Maria Congedo,Mariafrancesca Cascione

doi:10.5772/61092

Abstract

In this investigation, differently shaped and surface functionalized TiO2 anatase nanoparticles and human serum albumin (HSA) were selected to study protein-nanoparticles interaction both in a solution and on flat surfaces, thereby mimicking a medical device. Anatase nanocrystals were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface analysis and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The protein-nanoparticles' interactions and their eventual reversibility were studied by pH dependent ζ- potential measurements in different media: ultra-pure water, a phosphate buffer simulating physiological conditions and in a culture medium supplemented with foetal bovine serum. The protein corona masking effect was evidenced and the interaction HSA-nanocrystals resulted irreversible. The interaction HSA-silicon supported TiO2 nanocrystals films was studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM), and resulted driven by the substrate hydrophilicity degree plus was different for the diverse range of nanocrystals tested. Surface roughness measurements showed that on some of the nanocrystals, HSA were arranged in a more globular manner. A lower protein affinity was found for nanocrystals that had a smaller primary particle size, which may correspond to their higher biocompatibility. This nano-bio interface research aimed to study the HSA protein-TiO2 anatase nanocrystals under conditions similar to those for in vitro and in vivo toxicity analyses.

Highlights

Nanotechnological products’ rapid diffusion has given rise to concerns about the possible adverse effects following the direct or indirect exposure of humans to nanoparticles (NPs) [1,2,3]
Due to the possibilities created by nanomedicine [9], nanoTiO2 was tested as a nanomaterial together with human serum albumin (HSA) as a representative blood protein
Functionaliza‐ tion aimed at obtaining new TiO2 nanoparticles that are less toxic than commercial ones, e.g., Aeroxide P25, as well as the study of their interac‐ tions with HSA was applied as a test for discovering promising biomedical applications [22]

Summary

Introduction

Nanotechnological products’ rapid diffusion has given rise to concerns about the possible adverse effects following the direct or indirect exposure of humans to nanoparticles (NPs) [1,2,3] Due to their high surface to volume ratios, engineered nanoparticles exhibit chemical, physical and biological properties that differ from their bulk material forms, which may lead to adverse effects on human health and environmental systems [4]. The engineered nanomaterials’ interactions with mole‐ cules in biological fluids (mainly proteins) presents an extremely relevant process that leads to a nano-bio interface, as elucidated over the past few years [3]. HSA is a water-soluble protein with a molecular weight of 66.500 Da and contains 585 amino-

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Conclusion