Understanding biophysicochemical interactions at the nano-bio interface.
Rapid growth in nanotechnology is increasing the likelihood of engineered nanomaterials coming into contact with humans and the environment. Nanoparticles interacting with proteins, membranes, cells, DNA and organelles establish a series of nanoparticle/biological interfaces that depend on colloidal forces as well as dynamic biophysicochemical interactions. These interactions lead to the formation of protein coronas, particle wrapping, intracellular uptake and biocatalytic processes that could have biocompatible or bioadverse outcomes. For their part, the biomolecules may induce phase transformations, free energy releases, restructuring and dissolution at the nanomaterial surface. Probing these various interfaces allows the development of predictive relationships between structure and activity that are determined by nanomaterial properties such as size, shape, surface chemistry, roughness and surface coatings. This knowledge is important from the perspective of safe use of nanomaterials.
Nel
Andre E
AE
Division of NanoMedicine, David Geffen School of Medicine and California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA. anel@mednet.ucla.edu
Mädler
Lutz
L
Velegol
Darrell
D
Xia
Tian
T
Hoek
Eric M V
EM
Somasundaran
Ponisseril
P
Klaessig
Fred
F
Castranova
Vince
V
Thompson
Mike
M
D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D010316:Particle Size; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011506:Proteins