title: Gold nanoparticles can induce the formation of protein-based aggregates at physiological pH.
abstract: Protein-nanoparticle interactions are of central importance in the biomedical applications of nanoparticles, as well as in the growing biosafety concerns of nanomaterials. We observe that gold nanoparticles initiate protein aggregation at physiological pH, resulting in the formation of extended, amorphous protein-nanoparticle assemblies, accompanied by large protein aggregates without embedded nanoparticles. Proteins at the Au nanoparticle surface are observed to be partially unfolded; these nanoparticle-induced misfolded proteins likely catalyze the observed aggregate formation and growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA.
authors.forename: Dongmao
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Oara
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Virany M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Yuwono
authors.forename: Aoune
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barhoumi
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perham
authors.forename: Jeffrey D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hartgerink
authors.forename: Pernilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wittung-Stafshede
authors.forename: Naomi J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Halas
mesh_terms: D020285:Cryoelectron Microscopy; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009113:Muramidase / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman
chemical_list: D006046:Gold; D009113:Muramidase