Conformational and functional changes of bovine serum albumin induced by TiO2 nanoparticles binding

Mesoscopic Model for Reversible Adsorption Stage of Albumin and Fibrinogen on TiO2 Surface

The competitive behavior of proteins in the reversible adsorption stage plays a crucial role in determining the composition of the protein layer and the subsequent biological responses to the biomaterial. However, such competitive adsorption is a mesoscopic process at physiological protein concentration, and neither a macroscopic experiment nor microscopic MD (molecular dynamics) simulation is suitable to clarify it. Here, we proposed a mesoscopic DPD (dissipative particle dynamics) model to illustrate the competitive process of albumin and fibrinogen on TiO2 surface with its parameters deduced from our previous MD simulation, and proved the model well retained the diffusion and adsorption properties of proteins in the competitive adsorption on the plane surface. We then applied the model to the competitive adsorption on the surfaces with different nanostructures and observed that when the nanostructure size is much larger than that of protein, the increase in surface area is the main influencing factor; when the nanostructure size is close to that of protein, the coordination between the nanostructure and the size and shape of protein significantly affects the competitive adsorption process. The model has revealed many mechanical phenomena observed in previous experimental studies and has the potential to contribute to the development of high-performance biomaterials.

High-strength and anti-bacterial BSA/carboxymethyl chitosan/silver nanoparticles/calcium alginate composite hydrogel membrane for efficient dye/salt separation

In order to solve the problems of poor mechanical property, non-antibacterial and low flux of calcium alginate (CaAlg) membrane, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) for improving CaAlg membrane in this paper. Meanwhile, the dispersion property of silver nanoparticles and the mechanical property, thermal stability, antibacterial property and filtration efficiency of the composite membrane were explored. The results illustrated CMCS observably strengthened the mechanical property and thermal stability of the composite membrane, and AgNPs endowed the composite membrane with excellent antibacterial property. The flux of the BSA/CMCS/AgNPs/CaAlg composite membrane was raised compared to CaAlg membrane. Finally, the viscose fiber/polyethylene terephthalate fiber (VF-PET) nonwoven fabric was introduced as the support layer to further improve the filtration flux and mechanical property of the composite membrane. VF-PET/BSA/CMCS/AgNPs/CaAlg membrane had a rejection rate of over 99.0 % for dye molecules and <9.0 % for salt ions, while the flux maintained 38.5 L·m^-2·h^-1. Furthermore, VF-PET/BSA/CMCS/AgNPs/CaAlg membrane also had excellent separation effect on actual dye wastewater. The separation of dye and salt by the membrane mainly depended on the screening mechanism of membrane pore size, rather than adsorption. The composite membrane had an outstanding performance on the separation of dye molecules and inorganic salt ions.

Surface Chemistry, Crystal Structure, Size and Topography Role in the Albumin Adsorption Process on TiO2 Anatase Crystallographic Faces and Its 3D-Nanocrystal: A Molecular Dynamics Study

TiO2 is widely used in biomaterial implants. The topography, chemical and structural properties of titania surfaces are an important aspect to study. The size of TiO2 nanoparticles synthetized by sol–gel method can influence the responses in the biological environment, and by using appropriate heat treatments different contents of different polymorphs can be formed. Protein adsorption is a crucial step for the biological responses, involving, in particular, albumin, the most abundant blood protein. In this theoretical work, using molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics methods, the adsorption process of an albumin subdomain is reported both onto specific different crystallographic faces of TiO2 anatase and also on its ideal three-dimensional nanosized crystal, using the simulation protocol proposed in my previous theoretical studies about the adsorption process on hydrophobic ordered graphene-like or hydrophilic amorphous polymeric surfaces. The different surface chemistry of anatase crystalline faces and the nanocrystal topography influence the adsorption process, in particular the interaction strength and protein fragment conformation, then its biological activity. This theoretical study can be a useful tool to better understand how the surface chemistry, crystal structure, size and topography play a key role in protein adsorption process onto anatase surface so widely used as biomaterial.

Interaction of nanoparticles with biological macromolecules: a review of molecular docking studies

The high frequency of using engineered nanoparticles in various medical applications entails a deep understanding of their interaction with biological macromolecules. Molecular docking simulation is now widely used to study the binding of different types of nanoparticles with proteins and nucleic acids. This helps not only in understanding the mechanism of their biological action but also in predicting any potential toxicity. In this review, the computational techniques used in studying the nanoparticles interaction with biological macromolecules are covered. Then, a comprehensive overview of the docking studies performed on various types of nanoparticles will be offered. The implication of these predicted interactions in the biological activity and/or toxicity is also discussed for each type of nanoparticles.

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) modified ZnO/CdS nanoparticles based fluorescence sensor for highly selective and sensitive detection of Fe(III)

A simple and fast spectrofluorimetric method coupled with carbon quantum dots (CQDs) modified ZnO/CdS nanoparticles was developed for the detection of Ferric iron (Fe(III)). The fluorescence of CQDs/ZnO/CdS NPs was effectively quenched by Fe(III) due to the strong interaction between the CQDs/ZnO/CdS NPs and Fe(III). In addition, the detection limit of Fe(III) was about 1.72×10^-7M. The effect of foreign ions on the fluorescence intensity of CQDs/ZnO/CdS NPs showed that the interference response in detecting of Fe(III) ions was low. Moreover, the quenching of Fe(III) and CQDs/ZnO/CdS NPs was discussed to be a static quenching procedure, which was proved by quenching constant K_SV and fluorescence lifetime τ. The study of thermodynamics showed that the values of entropy change (ΔS) and enthalpy change (ΔH) were both positive, and the value of free energy (ΔG) was negative, which implied that the weak interaction of the molecular between CQDs/ZnO/CdS NPs and Fe(III) was hydrophobic force, and the quenching process was endothermic and spontaneous.

Modulation of membrane properties by DNA in liposomes: A spectroscopic study

Liposome mediated DNA transport possesses a number of preventing diseases in clinical trials, thus, the study of interaction between DNA and liposomes has become a hot research direction. In this paper, the adsorption behavior of DNA onto two representative lipids had been studied by the fluorescence spectrum measurement, Ultraviolet absorption spectrum and Langmuir-Blodgett technology. The results of fluorescence spectrum measurement indicated that the fluorescence liposomes were quenched statically by DNA at all three temperatures. Thermodynamic analysis displayed that the intermolecular forces between DNA and liposomes were van der Waals forces and Hydrogen bonding. The experimental results of Ultraviolet absorption spectrum and Langmuir-Blodgett technology further verified these mechanisms. This work provides useful theoretical basis for the development of novel DNA delivery materials.

Interaction of graphene oxide with bovine serum albumin: A fluorescence quenching study

Fluorescence quenching was used to elucidate the binding interaction mechanism between bovine serum albumin (BSA) and graphene oxide (GO). By analyzing the values of Stern-Volmer quenching constant (K_SV) and binding constant (K_A) which were affected by temperature, we supposed that the quenching process between GO and BSA was mainly determined by static quenching, combined with dynamic quenching. The study of thermodynamics showed that the values of enthalpy change (∆H), entropy change (∆S) and Free Energy (∆G) were all negative, which implied that the weak interaction of the molecular between BSA and GO was Van der Waals interaction or hydrogen bond, and the quenching process was exothermic and spontaneous. The red shift in the synchronous fluorescence spectra suggested that the conformation of tryptophan was changed in the presence of GO. According to Förster's non-radiative energy transfer theory, the distance r between BSA (donor) and GO (acceptor) was calculated and indicated the occurrence of energy transfer from BSA to GO had high probability. The AFM observation and Raman spectroscopy revealed that the interaction between BSA and GO has occurred. Compared with other literatures, the explosion of surface topography about BSA and GO was paid more attention on in this study.