Abstract
BackgroundThe surface of a nanoparticle adsorbs molecules from its surroundings with a specific affinity determined by the chemical and physical properties of the nanomaterial. When a nanoparticle is exposed to a biological system, the adsorbed molecules form a dynamic and specific surface layer called a bio-corona. The present study aimed to identify the metabolites that form the bio-corona around anatase TiO2 nanoparticles incubated with leaves of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana.ResultsWe used an untargeted metabolomics approach and compared the metabolites isolated from wild-type plants with plants deficient in a class of polyphenolic compounds called flavonoids.ConclusionsThese analyses showed that TiO2 nanoparticle coronas are enriched for flavonoids and lipids and that these metabolite classes compete with each other for binding the nanoparticle surface.
Highlights
The surface of a nanoparticle adsorbs molecules from its surroundings with a specific affinity determined by the chemical and physical properties of the nanomaterial
By using an untargeted metabolomics approach, we aimed to determine which classes of chemicals, other than flavonoids, bind to the surface of TiO2 NPs and how changes in flavonoid composition alter the composition of the corona
Methanolic and nanoharvesting extracts We have previously shown that TiO2 NPs are taken up by plant cells, wherein they become coated with flavonoids and from which they get extruded back into the nanoharvesting suspension as flavonoid-NP conjugates [12, 13, 21]
Summary
The surface of a nanoparticle adsorbs molecules from its surroundings with a specific affinity determined by the chemical and physical properties of the nanomaterial. The present study aimed to identify the metabolites that form the bio-corona around anatase TiO2 nanoparticles incubated with leaves of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are widely used in food and cosmetics [1,2,3] In addition to their use in sunscreens, paints, ointments, toothpaste—to name just some products—continuing efforts in the synthesis and modifications of TiO2 NPs have brought about new applications, most important being photovoltaics and remediation [1]. This increased use of TiO2 NPs intensified studies of the environmental impact of this nanomaterial. Results of transcriptomics analyses vary in relation to the identity and the number of genes that are up- or down-regulated by exposure
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