Probing protein adsorption onto polymer-stabilized silver nanocolloids towards a better understanding on the evolution and consequences of biomolecular coronas

Author(s)

Batista, Carin C. S. ^[1] ; Albuquerque, Lindomar J. C. ^[1] ; Jager, Alessandro ^[2] ; Stepanek, Petr ^[2] ; Giacomelli, Fernando C. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed ABC, Ctr Ciencias Nat & Humanas, Santo Andre, SP - Brazil

^[2] Czech Acad Sci, Inst Macromol Chem, Prague - Czech Republic

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Materials Science & Engineering C-Materials for Biological Applications; v. 111, JUN 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

The use of noble metal nanoparticles in biomedical and biotechnological applications is nowadays well established. Particularly, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were proven to be effective for instance as a biocide agent. They also find applications in tumor therapies and sensing applications being encouraging tools for in-vivo imaging. In this framework, whenever they are in contact with living systems, they are rapidly coated by a protein corona thereby influencing a variety of biological events including cellular uptake, blood circulation lifetime, cytotoxicity and, ultimately, the therapeutic effect. Taking these considerations into account, we have explored the behavior of polymer-coated AgNPs in model protein environments focusing on the self-development of protein coronas. The polymers polyethyleneimine (PEI), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and poly(2-vinyl pyridine)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-b-P2VP) were used as stabilizing agents. The chemical nature of the polymer capping remarkably influences the behavior of the hybrid nanomaterials in protein environments. The PEO-b-P2VP and PVP-stabilized AgNPs are essentially inert to the model proteins adsorption. On the other hand, the PEI-stabilized AgNPs interact strongly with bovine serum albumin (BSA). Nevertheless, the same silver colloids were evidenced to be stable in IgG and lysozyme environments. The BSA adsorption into the PEI-stabilized AgNPs is most probably driven by hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions as suggested by isothermal titration calorimetry data. The development of protein coronas around the AgNPs may have relevant implications in a variety of biological events. Therefore, further investigations are currently underway to evaluate the influence of its presence on the cytotoxicity, hemolytic effects and biocide properties of the produced hybrid nanomaterials. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/24603-7 - Surface chemistry effects on the formation of protein corona over nano-sized silver colloids and its implications on cytotoxicity and biomedical applications
• Grantee: Carin Cristina da Silva Batista
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 19/03223-7 - Facing the polydispersity of polymer-stabilized silver nanocolloids by using microfluidics with further investigations on the thermodynamics of protein adsorption
• Grantee: Carin Cristina da Silva Batista
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 17/00459-4 - Biophysicochemical interactions at the nanobiointerface: the effect of surface features and protein corona on the cellular uptake of polymeric assemblies
• Grantee: Fernando Carlos Giacomelli
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants