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Capillary Electrophoresis Mass Spectrometry Approaches for Characterization of the Protein and Metabolite Corona Acquired by Nanomaterials
Published on: October 27, 2020
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Protein corona: implications for nanoparticle interactions with pulmonary cells.
Nagarjun V Konduru1,2, Ramon M Molina1,2, Archana Swami1
1Department of Environmental Health, Molecular and Integrative Physiological Sciences Program, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
Particle and Fibre Toxicology
|November 1, 2017
Summary
Nanoparticles (NPs) in the lungs adsorb different proteins, forming coronas that influence their clearance. Albumin coating affects NP biokinetics, aiding in predicting inhaled NP effects.
Area of Science:
- Nanotoxicology
- Materials Science
- Biophysics
Background:
- Previous studies demonstrated varying lung toxicity and clearance for cerium oxide (CeO2), barium sulfate (BaSO4), and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) in rats.
- Hypothesis: Protein coronas acquired by NPs in the lungs influence their pulmonary clearance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize protein coronas formed on different NPs exposed to rat lung lining fluid.
- To investigate the relationship between NP corona composition and uptake by alveolar macrophages (AMs).
- To determine the effect of albumin coating on NP lung clearance.
Main Methods:
- Incubation of CeO2, silica-coated CeO2, BaSO4, and ZnO NPs in rat lung lining fluid.
- Characterization of adsorbed proteins using gel electrophoresis and quantitative mass spectrometry.
- Assessment of NP uptake by AMs via electron microscopy and in vivo studies.
- Evaluation of gold NP lung clearance after albumin or citrate coating.
Main Results:
- Significant variations in the protein corona composition across the tested NPs were observed.
- Higher amounts of albumin, transferrin, and α-1 antitrypsin were found in the coronas of BaSO4 and ZnO NPs compared to CeO2 NPs.
- NP uptake by AMs differed, with less BaSO4 uptake than CeO2 NPs, and no ZnO NPs detected in AMs.
- Albumin-coated and citrate-coated gold NPs formed similar coronas and exhibited comparable lung clearance.
Conclusions:
- NPs variably adsorb proteins from lung lining fluid, influencing their corona composition.
- Albumin content in NP coronas correlates with NP uptake by AMs.
- Albumin coating did not alter gold NP translocation across the air-blood barrier.
- Developing a comprehensive NP corona database is crucial for predicting inhaled NP behavior and effects.
