A protein corona primer for physical chemists

Area of Science:

• Nanomedicine
• Physical Chemistry
• Biophysics

Background:

• Extracellular proteins adsorb onto nanoparticles, forming a protein corona.
• The protein corona dictates nanoparticle interactions with biological systems.
• Physical chemistry principles govern protein-nanoparticle surface interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of the protein corona.
• To highlight the need for advanced computational methods for predicting corona formation.
• To advocate for extending protein corona research to complex biological and environmental fluids.

Main Methods:

• Spectroscopy
• Microscopy
• Computational modeling

Main Results:

• The protein corona is a critical determinant of nanoparticle behavior in biological media.
• Current understanding relies on physical chemistry principles and established analytical techniques.
• The need for novel computational approaches, including machine learning, is identified.

Conclusions:

• Predicting protein corona formation requires new computational strategies.
• Future research should investigate protein corona in diverse environments like lung fluid and wastewater.
• A deeper understanding of the protein corona is essential for safe and effective nanoparticle applications.