MQ Photonics Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
Laboratory of Optical Theranostics, Nizhny Novgorod State University, 603950 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
Cells. 2022 Nov 17;11(22):3644. doi: 10.3390/cells11223644.
Applications of nanoparticles (NPs) in the life sciences require control over their properties in protein-rich biological fluids, as an NP quickly acquires a layer of proteins on the surface, forming the so-called "protein corona" (PC). Understanding the composition and kinetics of the PC at the molecular level is of considerable importance for controlling NP interaction with cells. Here, we present a systematic study of hard PC formation on the surface of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) coated with positively-charged polyethyleneimine (PEI) and negatively-charged poly (acrylic acid) (PAA) polymers in serum-supplemented cell culture medium. The rationale behind the choice of UCNP is two-fold: UCNP represents a convenient model of NP with a size ranging from 5 nm to >200 nm, while the unique photoluminescent properties of UCNP enable direct observation of the PC formation, which may provide new insight into this complex process. The non-linear optical properties of UCNP were utilised for direct observation of PC formation by means of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. Our findings indicated that the charge of the surface polymer coating was the key factor for the formation of PC on UCNPs, with an ensuing effect on the NP-cell interactions.
纳米粒子 (NPs) 在生命科学中的应用需要控制其在富含蛋白质的生物流体中的性质,因为 NP 会很快在表面获得一层蛋白质,形成所谓的“蛋白质冠” (PC)。了解 PC 在分子水平上的组成和动力学对于控制 NP 与细胞的相互作用非常重要。在这里,我们在血清补充的细胞培养基中对带正电荷的聚乙烯亚胺 (PEI) 和带负电荷的聚丙烯酸 (PAA) 聚合物涂覆的上转换纳米粒子 (UCNP) 表面上硬 PC 的形成进行了系统研究。选择 UCNP 的理由有两个:UCNP 是一种尺寸范围从 5nm 到 >200nm 的 NP 的方便模型,而 UCNP 的独特光致发光性质能够直接观察 PC 的形成,这可能为这一复杂过程提供新的见解。UCNP 的非线性光学性质被用于通过荧光相关光谱法直接观察 PC 的形成。我们的研究结果表明,表面聚合物涂层的电荷是 UCNP 上 PC 形成的关键因素,从而对 NP-细胞相互作用产生影响。