Nano-bio interactions between carbon nanomaterials and blood plasma proteins: why oxygen functionality matters

Kenry Kenry,Chwee Teck Lim,Alisha Geldert,Yanpeng Liu,Kian Ping Loh

doi:10.1038/am.2017.129

Kenry Kenry, Chwee Teck Lim + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1038/am.2017.129

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Journal: NPG Asia Materials	Publication Date: Aug 1, 2017
Citations: 31	License type: open-access

Affiliation: National University of Singapore

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Carbon nanomaterials are some of the most versatile nanomaterials. Along with increasing explorations into their utilization in a plethora of biological and biomedical applications, there have been emerging interests and needs in understanding the molecular hemocompatibility of these engineered nanomaterials when coming into contact with blood. Here, we evaluate the nano-bio interactions of one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) carbon nanomaterials with blood plasma proteins. Different facets of the nanomaterial–protein interactions, specifically, the adsorption, equilibrium binding and conformational stability of proteins upon association with carbon nanomaterials are established, based on the quantification of various parameters, such as association constant, binding cooperativity and protein secondary structural change. In light of our data, we demonstrate that the carbon nanomaterial–plasma protein interactions may be significantly influenced by the density of the oxygenated functionalities of the nanomaterials and to a certain extent, their dimensionality and surface area. This work offers a broad insight into the nano-bio interactions between carbon nanomaterials and blood plasma proteins and provides a strong basis for the design and use of 1D and 2D carbon nanomaterials for a wide variety of bioapplications.

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IntroductionThe assessment of the hemocompatiblity of these engineered nanomaterials based on their interactions with blood components has attracted much attention in recent years.[16,17,18] This is because, for most of the in vivo bioapplications of carbon nanomaterials, there is likelihood of them being exposed to blood cells and plasma proteins in the blood circulatory system
In light of our data, we demonstrate that the carbon nanomaterial–plasma protein interactions may be significantly influenced by the density of the oxygenated functionalities of the nanomaterials and to a certain extent, their dimensionality and surface area
Aqueous suspensions of different carbon nanomaterial and plasma protein samples were first dropped on mica and their morphology were probed using an atomic force microscope (AFM) operating in the tapping mode

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Introduction

The assessment of the hemocompatiblity of these engineered nanomaterials based on their interactions with blood components has attracted much attention in recent years.[16,17,18] This is because, for most of the in vivo bioapplications of carbon nanomaterials, there is likelihood of them being exposed to blood cells and plasma proteins in the blood circulatory system. As carbon nanomaterials enter a physiological environment, they will inevitably interact and bind with specific proteins in that microenvironment. This binding is normally influenced by several factors, notably the nanomaterial surface properties.[24,25,26] the nanomaterial–protein association significantly influences the biological effects of carbon nanomaterials as well as the extent of the biological response towards these nanomaterials.[27,28,29]

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