The bio-corona and its impact on nanomaterial toxicity

Abstract

Abstract:The rapidly growing application of nanosized materials and nano-scaled processes will result in increased exposure of humans and the environment. The small size of nanomaterials (NM) comparable with molecular building blocks of cells raises concerns that their toxic potential cannot be extrapolated from studies of larger particles due to their unique physico-chemical properties. These properties are also responsible that NM rapidly adsorb various (bio)molecules when introduced into complex physiological or natural environments. As the thus formed protein/biomolecule 'corona' seems to affect the NM' in situ identity, an understanding of its toxicological relevance and the biophysical forces regulating corona formation is needed but not yet achieved. This review introduces our current concept of corona formation and evolution and present analytical methods for corona profiling. We discuss toxicity mechanisms potentially affected by the biomolecule corona, including NM cellular uptake and impact on components of the blood system. Further, we comment on pending knowledge gaps and challenges, which need to be resolved by the field. We conclude by presenting a tiered systems biology-driven approach recommended to mechanistically understand the coronas' nanotoxicological relevance and predictive potential.

Protein bio-corona: critical issue in immune nanotoxicology

“…As indicated above, the bio-corona is a dynamic entity and the toxicological impact of it needs to be determined by unveiling toxicologically relevant phenomena at the nano-bio-interface (Westmeier et al 2015 ). Concentrating on the future of nanotoxicology in this framework, Westmeier et al ( 2015 ) have outlined some important directions to follow. Thus, highly advanced in vitro cellular models should reproduce the major entry routes of NPs to biological systems, in order to sustain high-throughput analysis and standardization.…”

“…Another modality important in resolving the toxicological issues for inter-cellular communication, intra-/inter-cellular signaling pathways and complex responses to NPs is to go up to organ-on-a chip (Lancaster et al. 2013 ; Nguyen et al 2013 ; Westmeier et al 2015 ). In vitro testing should advance to in vivo models where predictability of NPs’ influence on human health needs to be examined (Nel et al 2013 ).…”

Toward Diffusion Measurements of Colloidal Nanoparticles in Biological Environments by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

“…Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) for biomedical applications undergo spontaneous protein adhesion when placed in biological fluids, such as blood. This phenomenon is known as protein corona [ 1 ] and it has direct implications in the cellular uptake, [ 2 ] circulating times, [ 3 ] fate, [ 4 ] and toxicity [ 5 ] of NPs in living beings. Thus, in order to learn about the NPs' interaction with proteins and cells, in situ characterization would be helpful, that is, quantification methods without the need to isolate NPs from their environment.…”

Quantitative uptake of colloidal particles by cell cultures

“…The size of the particles changes its surface activity and thus can alter the nature of biologically active proteins (Goy-Lopez et al, 2012;Lundqvist et al, 2008). The formation of the protein corona can affect both the colloidal stability and the uptake of cells, as toxicity (Westmeier et al, 2016a, 2016b. Cedervall et al (2007 reported that protein adsorption on the particle's surface depends not only on the physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles, but also on the protein affinity to the particles, the so-called protein identity.…”