The protein-nanoparticle interaction (protein corona) and its importance on the therapeutic application of nanoparticles

Abstract

Nanobiotechnology has provided promising novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies which capable to create a broad spectrum of nano-based imaging agents and medicines for human administrations. Several studies have demonstrated that the surface of nanomaterials is immediately coated with suspended proteins after contact with plasma or other biological fluids to form protein corona-nanoparticle complexes. Cells react after exposure with these complexes. since, the biological fate and functions of nanomaterials are determined by physiological responses to protein -nanoparticle complexes in this article, we aimed to review some studies about the effects of the protein profiles and physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles in the biological environment on the formation of protein corona and subsequent the biological responses upon exposure to nanoparticles. Also, some used methods for of protein corona analysis has been reviewed. It has been shown that the biological impacts of protein corona may be both constructive and/or destructive in the biomedical applications of nanomaterials. The protein corona–cell interactions can facilitate targeted delivery and cellular absorption of therapeutic nanomaterials and also, they mitigate the unfavorable cytotoxic effects of nanoparticles. On the other hand, these interactions may cause rapid clearance of nanoparticles from the body as well as the activation of undesirable inflammatory responses. Hence, the study of the formation mechanism and biological effects of protein corona plays an important role in the design of nanoparticles with specific physicochemical properties proportional with their intended biological activity.