title: In situ characterization of nanoparticle biomolecular interactions in complex biological media by flow cytometry.
abstract: Nanoparticles interacting with, or derived from, living organisms are almost invariably coated in a variety of biomolecules presented in complex biological milieu, which produce a bio-interface or 'biomolecular corona' conferring a biological identity to the particle. Biomolecules at the surface of the nanoparticle-biomolecule complex present molecular fragments that may be recognized by receptors of cells or biological barriers, potentially engaging with different biological pathways. Here we demonstrate that using intense fluorescent reporter binders, in this case antibodies bound to quantum dots, we can map out the availability of such recognition fragments, allowing for a rapid and meaningful biological characterization. The application in microfluidic flow, in small detection volumes, with appropriate thresholding of the detection allows the study of even complex nanoparticles in realistic biological milieu, with the emerging prospect of making direct connection to conditions of cell level and in vivo experiments.
authors.affiliation: Centre for BioNano Interactions, School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lo Giudice
authors.affiliation: Centre for BioNano Interactions, School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: Luciana M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Herda
authors.affiliation: Centre for BioNano Interactions, School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Polo
authors.affiliation: Centre for BioNano Interactions, School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: Kenneth A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Dawson
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000906:Antibodies / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D045663:Quantum Dots; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D014168:Transferrin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D011506:Proteins; D012709:Serum Albumin; D014168:Transferrin