Modelling the adsorption of proteins to nanoparticles at the solid-liquid interface

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Materials Science
• Virology

Background:

• Silica nanoparticles are common and can accumulate SARS-CoV-2.
• Understanding protein adsorption on surfaces is crucial for virus control.

Purpose of the Study:

• Develop a geometrical model for protein monolayer packing on spherical nanoparticles.
• Investigate the adsorption of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein's receptor binding domain (RBD) onto silica nanoparticles.

Main Methods:

• Validated a novel geometrical model using existing protein-nanoparticle adsorption datasets.
• Employed integrated experimental methods and Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations.
• Characterized RBD binding to silica nanoparticles and its structural impact.

Main Results:

• The model accurately predicted protein packing, fitting existing data.
• Observed 32% surface occupancy of RBD on silica nanoparticles relative to theoretical maximum.
• Found up to 25% of RBD's secondary structures changed conformation upon adsorption.

Conclusions:

• The study provides insights into protein-surface interactions, specifically RBD-silica nanoparticle binding.
• Findings contribute to understanding viral component persistence on inanimate surfaces.
• This research can inform strategies to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 spread via contaminated objects.