Issue 15, 2014

Nanoparticle–protein corona complexes govern the biological fates and functions of nanoparticles

Abstract

Upon contact with plasma or other protein-containing biological fluids, the surface of nanoparticles is immediately decorated with proteins forming a biologically active protein corona. The biological fates and functions of nanoparticles are determined by physiological responses toward these nanoparticle–protein corona complexes as the effective biological unit of nanoparticles. In this article, we review representative studies on the effects of particle physicochemical characteristics along with the protein profiles in the biological medium on the formation of protein corona and importantly, how the dynamic nature and protein fingerprints of the formed corona govern the biological responses toward nanoparticles. The biological effects arising from the presence of protein corona can be both beneficial and unfavourable to the biomedical applications of nanoparticles. The protein corona–cell interactions open up the feasibility of targeted delivery and cell-specific uptake of therapeutic nanoparticles and in other circumstances, engineering of nanoparticles as adjuvants for vaccine development as well as mitigation of the unintentional cytotoxic effects of nanoparticles. On the other hand, the protein corona–cell interactions could induce rapid clearance of nanoparticles from in vivo circulation as well as activating unwanted inflammatory responses. Taken together, the knowledge on the formation and biological effects of protein corona enables tailored tuning of the physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles, unique to their intended biological activity.

Graphical abstract: Nanoparticle–protein corona complexes govern the biological fates and functions of nanoparticles

Article information

Article type
Feature Article
Submitted
29 Oct 2013
Accepted
25 Feb 2014
First published
25 Feb 2014

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 2060-2083

Nanoparticle–protein corona complexes govern the biological fates and functions of nanoparticles

C. Gunawan, M. Lim, C. P. Marquis and R. Amal, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014, 2, 2060 DOI: 10.1039/C3TB21526A

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