The role of protein corona in advancing plasma proteomics

The protein corona, a layer of biomolecules forming around nanoparticles in biological environments, critically influences nanoparticle interactions with biosystems, affecting pharmacokinetics and biological outcomes. Initially, the protein corona presented challenges for nanomedicine and nanotoxicology, such as nutrient depletion in cell cultures and masking of nanoparticle-targeting species. However, recent advancements have highlighted its potential in environmental toxicity, proteomics, and immunology. This viewpoint focuses on leveraging the protein corona to enhance the depth of plasma proteome analysis, addressing challenges posed by the high dynamic range of protein concentrations in plasma. The protein corona simplifies sample preparation, enriches low-abundance proteins, and improves proteome coverage. Innovations include using diverse nanoparticles and spiking small molecules to increase the number of quantified proteins. Reproducibility issues across core facilities necessitate standardized protocols. Moreover, top-down proteomics enables proteoform-specific measurements, providing deeper insights into protein corona composition. Future research should aim at improving top-down proteomics techniques and integrating protein corona studies and proteomics for personalized medicine and advanced diagnostics.