Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 3
Protein Corona: Applications and Challenges
Abstract
The protein corona introduces new unexpected applications and
shortcomings for the nanoparticles. For instance, it is now well recognized that
the protein coating reduces the targeting capability of surface-engineered
nanoparticles by screening the active sites of the targeting ligands. Therefore, in
this chapter, we will review the advantages and disadvantages of the protein-
nanoparticle interaction with the correspondent biological impact. In addition,
broad overview of current available data of both in vitro and in vivo protein-
nanoparticle interactions is provided.
When nanosystems are in a physiological environment, they rapidly adsorb
biomolecules such as proteins and lipids on their surface forming a protein
“corona.” Therefore, in addition to size, shape, and other nanoscale parameters of
the nanomaterial, the long-lived (hard) corona has an important impact on the
behavior of nanoparticle (NP) in biological media [
1
]. The formation of protein
corona around the nanoparticle changes the size, surface chemistry, solubility,
aggregation, and surface charge of the nanoparticle and hence can influence the
biodistribution, cellular uptake, and macrophage capture of nanoparticles. For
example, dysopsonins such as albumin help the longer circulation of nanoparticle
in the body, while opsonins such as IgG, complement factors, and fibrinogen
promote the phagocytosis and concentration in the liver and spleen [
2
].
Controlling the interaction of nanomaterials with biological systems represents a
big challenge of nanomedicine. Uncontrolled nanomaterial-protein interactions can
mark a nanosystem for uptake by cells, enhanced phagocytosis or biodistribution,
signaling, activate enzymatic cascades, or prevent efficient removal from the body
[
2
,
3
]. A nanomaterial is safe only when its physiological response is understood
and controlled. Thus, understanding the biological identity of a nanomaterial and
how it determines the physiological response is very important and necessary for
the development of safe and effective nanomedicines.
It is difficult to design nanomaterials to interact with proteins and cells in a
controlled way. The protein corona consists of dozens of proteins with varying
