Abstract
Physiochemical properties of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) play a vital role in nano-bio interactions, which are critical for nanotoxicity and nanomedicine research. To understand the effects of NP hydrophobicity on the formation of the protein corona, we synthesized four gold NPs with a continuous change in hydrophobicity ranging from −2.6 to 2.4. Hydrophobic NPs adsorbed 2.1-fold proteins compared to hydrophilic ones. Proteins with small molecular weights (<50 kDa) and negatively charge (PI < 7) constituted the majority of the protein corona, especially for hydrophobic NPs. Moreover, proteins preferred binding to hydrophilic NPs (vitronectin and antithrombin III), hydrophobic NPs (serum albumin and hemoglobin fetal subunit beta), and medium hydrophobic NPs (talin 1 and prothrombin) were identified. Besides, proteins such as apolipoprotein bound to all NPs, did not show surface preference. We also found that there was a dynamic exchange between hard protein corona and solution proteins. Because of such dynamic exchanges, protein-bound NPs could expose their surface in biological systems. Hydrophilic NPs exhibited higher protein exchange rate than hydrophobic NPs. Above understandings have improved our capabilities to modulate protein corona formation by controlling surface chemistry of NPs. These will also help modulate nanotoxicity and develop better nanomedcines.
Highlights
Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) with unique physical and chemical properties have been widely used in catalysis (Liu and Dai, 2016; Sharma et al, 2015), electronics (Liu et al, 2017; Wu, 2017), and biomedicine (Ramos et al, 2017; Ke et al, 2018)
To understand possible health issues of engineered NPs, it is necessary to clarify the basic interactions between NPs and physiological systems, blood, and biomolecules (Nel et al, 2009; Srivastava et al, 2015)
Understanding and tailoring the fundamental interactions between NPs and physiological systems has become a focus of nanotoxicity and nanomedicine research
Summary
Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) with unique physical and chemical properties have been widely used in catalysis (Liu and Dai, 2016; Sharma et al, 2015), electronics (Liu et al, 2017; Wu, 2017), and biomedicine (Ramos et al, 2017; Ke et al, 2018). We assembled NPs with a continuous change in surface hydrophobicity with identical size, shape and core material to investigate protein corona formation on these NPs. LogP values of these NPs were ranging from −2.6 to + 2.4, as measured by shaking-flask method. Hydrodynamic diameters and zeta potentials were characterized by dynamic light scattering (NanoBrook 90Plus Zeta, Brookheaven) Before measuring, these NPs should be sonicated several minutes to help disperse. The mixture was centrifuged, the pellet was washed with PBS three times and NPs with protein corona were obtained. After shaking at 37◦C for 1 h to form protein corona, the mixture was centrifuged at 20000g (4◦C, 1 h) and washed with PBS twice.
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