Engineering the Interface between Inorganic Nanoparticles and Biological Systems through Ligand Design

Abstract

Nanoparticles (NPs) provide multipurpose platforms for a wide range of biological applications. These applications are enabled through molecular design of surface coverages, modulating NP interactions with biosystems. In this review, we highlight approaches to functionalize nanoparticles with ”small” organic ligands (Mw < 1000), providing insight into how organic synthesis can be used to engineer NPs for nanobiology and nanomedicine.

Role of Ionic Strength in the Formation of Stable Supramolecular Nanoparticle–Protein Conjugates for Biosensing

“…Monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been extensively investigated to disclose their unique and diverse properties. [1][2][3][4][5] AuNPs have already shown great potential in applications, including chemosensing (i.e., small molecule detection in solution) [6,7], biosensing [8][9][10], catalysis (nanozymes) [11][12][13] and transport of chemical species in biological environments and cells (e.g., drug delivery) [14][15][16]. Inorganic nanoparticles can be engineered to possess physiochemical properties for specific applications, e.g., their shape [17] and size [18] can be tuned to define nanoparticle properties.…”

“…The molecular recognition properties of these particles are dictated by the chemical structure of the coating ligands, which form self-organized and multivalent binding sites for the guest species [19], a feature crucial for nanoparticle colloidal stability [20,21]. The surface of the nanoparticles interfaces with the external environment, and appropriately engineered surfaces can be used to regulate interactions between nanoparticles and biomolecules [22][23][24] driven by non-covalent interactions [9,25].…”

All-natural gelatin-based bioorthogonal catalysts for efficient eradication of bacterial biofilms

“…12 Incorporating TMCs into nanoparticle hosts can solubilize and stabilize the catalysts, providing bioorthogonal 'nanozymes' that replicate structural and functional aspects of natural enzymes. 13,14 These nanoscaffolds possess unique physicochemical properties that facilitate rational design and future applications. 15 To date, a wide range of nanomaterials have been used to generate nanozymes, advancing the development of bioorthogonal catalysis.…”

Spotting Local Environments in Self-Assembled Monolayer-Protected Gold Nanoparticles

“…Gating, substrate- and site-selectivities derived from the molecular details of the on-particle molecular environment needed to be carefully designed . Mimicking the catalytic activity of proteins or their interaction with biological matter exploiting SAM-AuNPs has also been the object of growing exploration. − The integration of bio-orthogonal catalytic systems such as transition-metal catalysts into nanoparticle scaffolds allowed the creation of synthetic catalytic nanosystems (nanozymes) able to replicate the complex behavior of natural enzymes in biological media. , Hydrophobicity of surface motifs and monolayer compaction regulate the kinetic behavior of the nanozyme, together with temperature or pH. , …”

“…15,16 Hydrophobicity of surface motifs and monolayer compaction regulate the kinetic behavior of the nanozyme, together with temperature or pH. 17,18 The examples cited above point out the beauty and complexity of surface confined environments in SAMs. They all rely on the local structure, dynamics, and solvation of the monolayer at atomic and nanoscale, although to a different extent.…”