title: Selective characterization of proteins on nanoscale concave surfaces.
abstract: Nanoscale curvature plays a critical role in nanostructure-biomolecule interactions, yet the understanding of such effects in concave nanostructures is still very limited. Because concave nanostructures usually possess convex surface curvatures as well, it is challenging to selectively study the proteins on concave surfaces alone. In this work, we have developed a novel and facile method to address this issue by desorbing proteins on the external surfaces of hollow gold nanocages (AuNG), allowing the selective characterization of retained proteins immobilized on their internal concave surfaces. The selective desorption of proteins was achieved via varying the solution ionic strength, and was demonstrated by both calculation and experimental comparison with non-hollow nanoparticles. This method has created a new platform for the discrete observation of proteins adsorbed inside AuNG hollow cores, and this work suggests an expanded biomedical application space for hollow nanomaterials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY 12180, USA; Rensselaer Nanotechnology Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA; Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY 12180, USA.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY 12180, USA; Rensselaer Nanotechnology Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA.
authors.forename: Utthara
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Rameshbabu
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY 12180, USA; Rensselaer Nanotechnology Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA; Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY 12180, USA; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY 12180, USA. Electronic address: dordick@rpi.edu.
authors.forename: Jonathan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Dordick
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY 12180, USA; Rensselaer Nanotechnology Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA; Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY 12180, USA. Electronic address: rwsiegel@rpi.edu.
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Siegel
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D004800:Enzymes, Immobilized / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D009113:Muramidase / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D004800:Enzymes, Immobilized; D008024:Ligands; D009113:Muramidase
keywords: Concave nanostructure; Gold nanoparticle; Nano-bio interaction; Protein adsorption