Abstract
Due to their advantageous characteristics, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are being increasingly utilized in a vast array of biomedical applications. However, the efficacy of these procedures are highly dependent upon strong interactions between AuNPs and the surrounding environment. While the field of nanotechnology has grown exponentially, there is still much to be discovered with regards to the complex interactions between NPs and biological systems. One area of particular interest is the generation of a protein corona, which instantaneously forms when NPs encounter a protein-rich environment. Currently, the corona is viewed as an obstacle and has been identified as the cause for loss of application efficiency in physiological systems. To date, however, no study has explored if the protein corona could be designed and advantageously utilized to improve both NP behavior and application efficacy. Therefore, we sought to identify if the formation of a preliminary protein corona could modify both AuNP characteristics and association with the HaCaT cell model. In this study, a corona comprised solely of epidermal growth factor (EGF) was successfully formed around 10-nm AuNPs. These EGF-AuNPs demonstrated augmented particle stability, a modified corona composition, and increased deposition over stock AuNPs, while remaining biocompatible. Analysis of AuNP dosimetry was repeated under dynamic conditions, with lateral flow significantly disrupting deposition and the nano-cellular interface. Taken together, this study demonstrated the plausibility and potential of utilizing the protein corona as a means to influence NP behavior; however, fluid dynamics remains a major challenge to progressing NP dosimetry.
Highlights
In recent years, colloidal gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have attracted significant attention for use in biomedical applications
Preliminary work has identified that the introduction of dynamic flow modified cellular morphology, NP behavior, and NP dosimetry (Breitner et al 2015; Kusunose et al 2013; Ucciferri et al 2014). These results suggest that the nano-cellular interface and the rate of NP deposition will be influenced by dynamic flow; making it a critical variable to include during AuNP application analysis
As the preliminary protein corona was comprised of epidermal growth factor (EGF), we investigated if the possibility of augmented EGF–EGF receptor couplings would influence AuNP internalization patterns
Summary
Colloidal gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have attracted significant attention for use in biomedical applications. While biomedical applications vary in function, what they have in common is the need for a high AuNP delivery rate to be effective. Current design efforts to improve colloid delivery and deposition have focused on material-based approaches, through modification of particle size or surface chemistry (Bannunah et al 2014; Untener et al 2013). While these efforts have been met with moderate success, much work remains to optimize NP deposition and dosimetry (Pal et al 2015)
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