Nano-bio interactions

What is it about?

In the past few years, concerns of protein-gold nanoparticles (AuNP) interaction have been continuously growing in numerous potential biomedical applications. Despite the advances in tunable size, shape and excellent biocompatibility, unpredictable adverse effects related with protein corona (PC) have critically affected physiological to therapeutic responses. The complexity and uncontrollability of AuNP-PC formation limited the clinical applications of AuNP, e.g. AuNP-based drug delivery systems or imaging agent. Thus, even intensive attempts have been made for in vitro characterizations of PC around AuNP, the extrapolation of these data into in vivo PC responses still lags far behind. However, with accumulated knowledge of corona formation and the unique properties of AuNP, we are now encouraged to move forward to seeking positive exploitations. Herein, we summarize recent researches on interaction of protein and AuNP, aiming at provide a comprehensive understanding of such interaction associated with subsequent biomedical impacts. Importantly, the emerging trends in exploiting of potential applications and opportunities based on protein-AuNP interaction were discussed as well.

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