Exploring biological effects of MoS2 nanosheets on native structures of α-helical peptides

Nanotoxicity of two-dimensional nanomaterials on human skin and the structural evolution of keratin protein

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have been increasingly widely used in biomedical and cosmetical products nowadays, yet their safe usage in human body and environment necessitates a comprehensive understanding of their nanotoxicity. In this work, the effect of pristine graphene and graphene oxide (GO) on the adsorption and conformational changes of skin keratin using molecular dynamics simulations. It is found that skin keratin can be absorbed through various noncovalent driving forces, such as van der Waals (vdW) and electrostatics. In the case of GO, the oxygen-containing groups prevent tighter contact between skin keratin and the graphene basal plane through steric effects and electrostatic repulsion. On the other hand, electrostatic attraction and hydrogen bonding enhance their binding affinity to positively charged residues such as lysine and arginine. The secondary structure of skin keratin is better preserved in GO system, suggesting that GO has good biocompatibility. The charged groups on GO surface perform as the hydrogen bond acceptors, which is like to the natural receptors of keratin in this physiological environment. This work contributes to a better knowledge of the nanotoxicity of cutting-edge 2D materials on human health, thereby advancing their potential biological applications.

Villin headpiece unfolding upon binding to boridene mediated by the "anchoring-perturbation" mechanism

We employ molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the influence of boridene on the behavior of a protein model, HP35, with the aim of assessing the potential biotoxicity of boridene. Our MD results reveal that HP35 can undergo unfolding via an "anchoring-perturbation" mechanism upon adsorption onto the boridene surface. Specifically, the third helix of HP35 becomes tightly anchored to the boridene surface through strong electrostatic interactions between the abundant molybdenum atoms on the boridene surface and the oxygen atoms on the HP35 backbone. Meanwhile, the first helix, experiencing continuous perturbation from the surrounding water solution over an extended period, suffers from potential breakage of hydrogen bonds, ultimately resulting in its unfolding. Our findings not only propose, for the first time to our knowledge, the "anchoring-perturbation" mechanism as a guiding principle for protein unfolding but also reveal the potential toxicity of boridene on protein structures.

Recent progress in MoS2 nanostructures for biomedical applications: Experimental and computational approach

In the category of 2D materials, MoS2 a transition metal dichalcogenide, is a novel and intriguing class of materials with interesting physicochemical properties, explored in applications ranging from cutting-edge optoelectronic to the frontiers of biomedical and biotechnology. MoS2 nanostructures an alternative to heavy toxic metals exhibit biocompatibility, low toxicity and high stability, and high binding affinity to biomolecules. MoS2 nanostructures provide a lot of opportunities for the advancement of novel biosensing, nanodrug delivery system, electrochemical detection, bioimaging, and photothermal therapy. Much efforts have been made in recent years to improve their physiochemical properties by developing a better synthesis approach, surface functionalization, and biocompatibility for their safe use in the advancement of biomedical applications. The understanding of parameters involved during the development of nanostructures for their safe utilization in biomedical applications has been discussed. Computational studies are included in this article to understand better the properties of MoS2 and the mechanism involved in their interaction with biomolecules. As a result, we anticipate that this combined experimental and computational studies of MoS2 will inspire the development of nanostructures with smart drug delivery systems, and add value to the understanding of two-dimensional smart nano-carriers.

Studying Peptide-Metal Ion Complex Structures by Solution-State NMR

Metal chelation can provide structural stability and form reactive centers in metalloproteins. Approximately one third of known protein structures are metalloproteins, and metal binding, or the lack thereof, is often implicated in disease, making it necessary to be able to study these systems in detail. Peptide-metal complexes are both present in nature and can provide a means to focus on the binding region of a protein and control experimental variables to a high degree. Structural studies of peptide complexes with metal ions by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) were surveyed for all the essential metal complexes and many non-essential metal complexes. The various methods used to study each metal ion are presented together with examples of recent research. Many of these metal systems have been individually reviewed and this current overview of NMR studies of metallopeptide complexes aims to provide a basis for inspiration from structural studies and methodology applied in the field.

On the interface between biomaterials and two-dimensional materials for biomedical applications

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have garnered significant attention due to their ultrathin 2D structures with a high degree of anisotropy and functionality. Reliable manipulation of interfaces between 2D materials and biomaterials is a new frontier for biomedical nanoscience and combining biomaterials with 2D materials offers a promising way to fabricate innovative 2D biomaterials composites with distinct functionality for biomedical applications. Here, we focus exclusively on a summary of the current work in the interface investigation of 2D biomaterials. Specifically, we highlight extraordinary features that make 2D materials so desirable, as well as the molecular level interactions between 2D materials and biomaterials that have been studied thus far. Furthermore, the approaches for investigating the interface characteristics of 2D biomaterials are presented and described in depth. To capture the emerging trend in mass manufacturing of 2D materials, we review the research progress on biomaterial-assisted exfoliation. Finally, we present a critical assessment of newly developed 2D biomaterials in biomedical applications.

Predicting biomolecule adsorption on MoS2 nanosheets with high structural fidelity

A new force field, MoSu-CHARMM, for the description of bio-interfacial structures at the aqueous MoS2 interface is developed, based on quantum chemical data. The force field describes non-covalent interactions between the MoS2 surface and a wide range of chemistries including hydrocarbon, alcohol, aldehyde, ketone, carboxylic acid, amine, thiol, and amino acid groups. Density functional theory (DFT), using the vdW-DF2 functional, is employed to create training and validation datasets, comprising 330 DFT binding energies for 21 organic compounds. Development of MoSu-CHARMM is guided by two criteria: (i) minimisation of energetic differences compared to target DFT data and (ii) preservation of the DFT energetic rankings of the different binding configurations. Force-field performance is validated against existing high-quality structural experimental data regarding adsorption of four 26-residue peptides at the aqueous MoS2 interface. Adsorption free energies for all twenty amino acids in liquid water are calculated to provide guidance for future peptide design, and interpret the properties of existing experimentally-identified MoS2-binding peptides. This force field will enable large-scale simulations of biological interactions with MoS2 surfaces in aqueous media where an emphasis on structural fidelity is prioritised.

Antipathogenic properties and applications of low-dimensional materials

A major health concern of the 21st century is the rise of multi-drug resistant pathogenic microbial species. Recent technological advancements have led to considerable opportunities for low-dimensional materials (LDMs) as potential next-generation antimicrobials. LDMs have demonstrated antimicrobial behaviour towards a variety of pathogenic bacterial and fungal cells, due to their unique physicochemical properties. This review provides a critical assessment of current LDMs that have exhibited antimicrobial behaviour and their mechanism of action. Future design considerations and constraints in deploying LDMs for antimicrobial applications are discussed. It is envisioned that this review will guide future design parameters for LDM-based antimicrobial applications.

Mild adsorption of carbon nitride (C3N3) nanosheet on a cellular membrane reveals its suitable biocompatibility

Recently, the novel hole-containing carbon nitride C₃N₃ nanomaterial was successfully synthesized, featuring outstanding and unique mechanical and electrical properties. However, to fully exploit this nanomaterial in biomedical applications, information regarding its biocompatibility is necessary. Herein, by using all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, we evaluate the interactions between a C₃N₃ nanosheet and a critical cellular component, that is, a lipid membrane bilayer. Our results indicate that the C₃N₃ nanosheet is able to interact with the lipid bilayer surface without affecting the membrane's structural integrity. Moreover, our results showed that the C₃N₃ nanosheet is adsorbed on the surface of the lipid bilayer without inflicting any structural damage to the membrane, regardless of the conditions of the system (that is, with and without restrains in the C₃N₃ nanosheet). Also, we found that both energy contributions, namely vdW and Coulomb energies, conjointly mediated the C₃N₃ adsorption process. In comparison and as expected, pristine graphene significantly disturbed the membrane structure. Perpendicularly-oriented-sheet simulations described the significance of the surface charges of the C₃N₃ nanosheet in prohibiting its insertion into the membrane. Detailed analysis indicated that the electrostatic attraction between the pores in the C₃N₃ structure and the lipid head amino groups stabilized the interaction restricting the insertion of the C₃N₃ structure deeper into the membrane. Our results suggested the importance of the negatively charged C₃N₃ pores when interacting with lipid membranes. Our findings shed light on the potential compatibility of C₃N₃ with biomembranes and its underlying molecular mechanism, which might provide a useful foundation for the future exploration of this 2D nanomaterial in biomedical applications.

Exploring the effect of silicene monolayer on the structure and function of villin headpiece and amyloid fibrils by molecular dynamics simulations

With the development of various nanomaterial expected to be used in biomedical fields, it is more important to evaluate and understand their potential effects on biological system. In this work, two proteins with different structure, Villin Headpiece (HP35) with α-helix structure and protofibrils Aβ1-42 with five β-strand chains, were selected and their interactions with silicene were studied by means of molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to reveal the potential effect of silicene on the structure and function of biomolecules. The obtained results indicated that silicene could rapidly attract HP35 and Aβ1-42 fibrils onto the surface to form a stable binding. The adsorption strength was moderate and no significant structural distortion of HP35 and Aβ1-42 fibrils was observed. Moreover, the strength of calculated the H-bonds in neighbor chain of Aβ1-42 fibrils indicated that the mild interactions between silicene and fibrils could regularize the structure of Aβ1-42 fibrils and stabilize the interactions between five chains of fibrils protein, which might enhance the aggregation of Aβ1-42 fibrils. This study provides a new insight for understanding the interaction between nanomaterials and biomolecules and moves forward the development of silicene into biomedical fields.

Comparative analysis of biological effects of molybdenum(IV) sulfide in the form of nano- and microparticles on human hepatoma HepG2 cells grown in 2D and 3D models

Significance of MoS₂ nanoparticles as a lubricant or drug carriers indicates the need to assess their safety. In the study we analyzed the effects of MoS₂ nano- and microparticles and their internalization in vitro, using 2D and 3D culture models of human hepatoma HepG2 cell line. MoS₂ micro- and nanoparticles were characterized with high resolution electron microscopy (HR-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS). The cells were exposed to a range of concentrations of the nano-and microparticles suspensions (maximum of 250 μg/mL) for 72 h. Cell viability was assessed using WST-1 reduction test and LDH release assay. Particle internalization was analyzed using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). The nanoparticles were internalized into the 2D and 3D cultured cells, in spheroids more efficiently into the outer layer. For microparticles mainly particles of less than 1 μm in diameter underwent internalization. This process, however, did not affect cell viability as measured with the WST-1 and LDH assays. STEM observation showed well preserved integrity of the cell membrane and no apparent cytotoxic effect. Although the particles seemed to be safely sequestered in vacuoles or the cytoplasm, their fate and eventual biological effects are not certain and deserve further studies.

Planar graphene/h-BN/graphene heterostructures for protein stretching and confinement

Protein stretching and confinement in nanochannels is critical for advancing single-molecule detection techniques. For standard nanochannels integrated with nano-sensors, reducing their cross-section is beneficial for reading highly localized signals with minimal error, but results in increasing difficulty for the initial capture of any chain molecules due to the entropy barrier. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we show that spontaneous protein stretching can be realized by a two-dimensional (2D) heterostructure composed of a hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanoribbon stitched with two graphene (GRA) sheets (i.e., a sandwiched GRA/BN/GRA structure). Due to fast protein diffusion on its flat surface and adsorption potential difference between two 2D materials, this planar nanochannel permits effective capture and elongation of three representative intrinsically disordered proteins including amyloid-β (1-42), polyglutamine (42) and α-synuclein (61-95). Moreover, we found that the extremely narrow h-BN stripe can provide stronger confinement for a longer polyglutamine chain after being stretched. Our approach has the potential to facilitate the bona fide readout of single-molecule protein sequencing techniques.

Probing Hydrogen-Bonding Properties of a Negatively Charged MoS2 Monolayer by Powder X-ray Diffraction and Density Functional Theory Calculations

The contributions of various noncovalent interactions in stabilization of the assembled and delaminated MoS₂-hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA)-layered compound resulted from the assembly of protonated HMTA molecules and negatively charged 1T-MoS₂ monolayers have been considered on the basis of powder X-ray diffraction pattern modeling, density functional theory calculations, and atoms in molecules quantum theory analysis. The structure with HMTA cations involved in NH···S bonding with MoS₂ layers was concluded to be more advantageous than the alternative one with NH···N bonding between the cations. Delamination was demonstrated to essentially influence the hierarchy of interactions and leads to significant strengthening of the NH···S hydrogen bond established between HMTA and the MoS₂ monolayer surface. The method applied in this study for evaluation of the monolayer MoS₂ properties on the basis of the 3D structure of the MoS₂-organic compound is expected to be helpful to gain insights into the interactions occurring in many MoS₂-based systems.

WS2 Nanosheets at Noncytotoxic Concentrations Enhance the Cytotoxicity of Organic Pollutants by Disturbing the Plasma Membrane and Efflux Pumps

Emerging transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) nanosheets, such as WS₂ nanosheets, have shown tremendous potential for use in many fields such as intelligent manufacturing and environmental protection. However, considerable knowledge gaps still exist regarding the impact of TMDCs on environmental risks, especially risks involving organic pollutants. Here, a synergistic toxicity between WS₂ nanosheets and organic pollutants (triclosan or tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate) was found using the median-effect and combination index equations. In particular, the effect of synergy had a higher magnitude at low cytotoxicity levels and a noncytotoxic concentration of WS₂ nanosheets clearly enhanced the cytotoxicity and intracellular accumulation of organic pollutants. On the one hand, WS₂ nanosheets damaged the plasma membrane and cytoskeleton, resulting in increased membrane permeability and organic pollutant uptake. On the other hand, as shown by fluorescence substrate accumulation experiments and molecular dynamics simulations, WS₂ nanosheets affected the secondary structure of the efflux pumps and competitively bound with efflux pumps, blocking xenobiotic removal. This work emphasized that TMDCs, especially at the noncytotoxic level, in combination with organic pollutants caused damage that cannot be ignored, providing insight into comprehensive safety assessment and the specific toxicological mechanisms of TMDCs that accompany organic pollutant exposure.

Biomolecular Material Recognition in Two Dimensions: Peptide Binding to Graphene, h-BN, and MoS2 Nanosheets as Unique Bioconjugates

Two-dimensional nanosheet-based materials such as graphene, hexagonal boron nitride, and MoS₂ represent intriguing structures for a variety of biological applications ranging from biosensing to nanomedicine. Recent advances have demonstrated that peptides can be identified with affinity for these three materials, thus generating a highly unique bioconjugate interfacial system. This Review focuses on recent advances in the formation of bioconjugates of these types, paying particular attention to the structure/function relationship of the peptide overlayer. This is achieved through the amino acid composition of the nanosheet binding peptides, thus allowing for precise control over the properties of the final materials. Such bioconjugate systems offer rapid advances via direct property control that remain difficult to achieve for biological applications using nonbiological approaches.

A Near-Infrared-Controllable Artificial Metalloprotease Used for Degrading Amyloid-β Monomers and Aggregates

Proteolysis of amyloid-β (Aβ) is a promising approach against Alzheimer's disease. However, it is not feasible to employ natural hydrolases directly because of their cumbersome preparation and purification, poor stability, and hazardous immunogenicity. Therefore, artificial enzymes have been developed as potential alternatives to natural hydrolases. Since specific cleavage sites of Aβ are usually embedded inside the β-sheet structures that restrict access by artificial enzymes, this strongly hinders their efficiency for practical applications. Herein, we construct a NIR (near-IR) controllable artificial metalloprotease (MoS₂ -Co) using a molybdenum disulfide nanosheet (MoS₂ ) and a cobalt complex of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (Codota). Evidenced by detailed experimental and theoretical studies, the NIR-enhanced MoS₂ -Co can circumvent the restriction by simultaneously inhibition of β-sheet formation and destroying β-sheet structures of the preformed Aβ aggregates in living cell. Furthermore, our designed MoS₂ -Co is an easy to graft Aβ-target agent that prevents misdirected or undesirable hydrolysis reactions, and has been demonstrated to cross the blood brain barrier. This method can be adapted for hydrolysis of other kinds of amyloids.

Unveiling the Structure of MoS x Nanocrystals Produced upon Laser Fragmentation of MoS2 Platelets

Transition-metal dichalcogenide MoS₂ nanostructures have attracted tremendous attention due to their unique properties, which render them efficient nanoscale functional components for multiple applications ranging from sensors and biomedical probes to energy conversion and storage devices. However, despite the wide application range, the possibility to tune their size, shape, and composition is still a challenge. At the same time, the correlation of the structure with the optoelectronic properties is still unresolved. Here, we propose a new method to synthesize various morphologies of molybdenum sulfide nanocrystals, on the basis of ultrashort-pulsed laser fragmentation of MoS₂ platelets. Depending on the irradiation conditions, multiple MoS _x morphologies in the form of nanoribbons, nanospheres, and photoluminescent quantum dots are obtained. Besides the detailed structural analysis of the various crystals formed, the structure-property relation is investigated and discussed.

Ultra-High Signal Detection of Human Embryonic Stem Cells Driven by Two-Dimensional Materials

We observed a unique bioelectric signal of human embryonic stem cells using direct current-voltage measurements facilitated by few-layered 2D-MoS₂ sheets. A 1.828 mA cell signal was achieved (2 orders of magnitude higher than previous electrical-based detection methods) as well as multiple cell reading cycles demonstrating I ∼ 1.9 mA. Native stem cell proliferation, viability, and pluripotency were preserved. Molecular dynamics simulations elucidated the origin of the 2D-MoS₂ sheet-assisted increase in current flow. This paves the way for the development of a broadly applicable, fast, and damage-free stem cell detection method capable of identifying pluripotency with virtually any complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor circuits.

Applications of Nanosheets in Frontier Cellular Research

Several types of nanosheets, such as graphene oxide (GO) nanosheet, molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) and poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) nanosheets, have been developed and applied in vitro in cellular research over the past decade. Scientists have used nanosheet properties, such as ease of modification and flexibility, to develop new cell/protein sensing/imaging techniques and achieve regulation of specific cell functions. This review is divided into three main parts based on the application being examined: nanosheets as a substrate, nanosheets as a sensitive surface, and nanosheets in regenerative medicine. Furthermore, the applications of nanosheets are discussed, with two subsections in each section, based on their effects on cells and molecules. Finally, the application prospects of nanosheets in cellular research are summarized.

Construction and synergistic anticancer efficacy of magnetic targeting cabbage-like Fe3O4@MoS2@ZnO drug carriers

A novel cabbage-like Fe₃O₄@MoS₂@ZnO nanocomposite was successfully fabricated through a facile method. The as-prepared nanocomposite exhibited a saturation magnetization of 45 emu g^-1 as well as possessed a massive pore structure and large surface area, leading to a high DOX loading capacity of 68.14 μg mg^-1; it could effectively deliver drugs to tumor lesion sites under the action of magnetic targeting. The pH-dependent ZnO as a packaging component can block the pores to achieve controlled release of DOX under tumor stimulation conditions (pH 6.5), thereby reducing the side effects of DOX on normal cells and increasing its therapy effects on tumor cells. Moreover, the photothermal conversion efficiency contributed by MoS₂ under 808 nm NIR laser irradiation was utilized to realize effective photothermal therapy (PTT) of cancer, which could be integrated with chemotherapy in a single system. Thus, the resulting Fe₃O₄@MoS₂@ZnO nanocomposites provide hopeful prospects in biomedical applications based on pH sensitivity, magnetic targeting and chemo-photothermal synergistic therapy.

Lysozyme orientation and conformation on MoS2 surface: Insights from molecular simulations

Two-dimensional molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) has attracted intense interest owing to its unique properties and promising biosensor applications. To develop effective biocompatible platforms, it is crucial to understand the interactions between MoS₂ and biological molecules such as proteins, but little knowledge exists on the orientation and conformation of proteins on the MoS₂ surface at the molecular level. In this work, the lysozyme adsorption on the MoS₂ surface was studied by molecular dynamics simulations, wherein six different orientations were selected based on the different faces of lysozyme. Simulation results showed that lysozyme tends to adsorb on the MoS₂ surface in an "end-on" orientation, indicating that orientations within this range are favorable for stable adsorption. The end-on orientation could be further categorized into "bottom end-on" and "top end-on" orientations. The driving forces responsible for the adsorption were dominated by van der Waals interactions and supplemented by electrostatic interactions. Further, the conformations of the lysozyme adsorbed on the MoS₂ surface were basically preserved. This simulation study promotes the fundamental understanding of interactions between MoS₂ and proteins and can guide the development of future biomedical applications of MoS₂.

Mild Binding of Protein to C2 N Monolayer Reveals Its Suitable Biocompatibility

The development of biocompatible nanomaterials for smart drug delivery and bioimaging has attracted great interest in recent years in biomedical fields. Here, the interaction between the recently reported nitrogenated graphene (C₂ N) and a prototypical protein (villin headpiece HP35) utilizing atomistic molecular dynamics simulations is studied. The simulations reveal that HP35 can form a stable binding with the C₂ N monolayer. Although the C₂ N-HP35 attractive interactions are constantly preserved, the binding strength between C₂ N and the protein is mild and does not cause significant distortion in the protein's structural integrity. This intrinsic biofriendly property of native C₂ N is distinct from several widely studied nanomaterials, such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, and MoS₂ , which can induce severe protein denaturation. Interestingly, once the protein is adsorbed onto C₂ N surface, its transverse migration is highly restricted at the binding sites. This restriction is orchestrated by C₂ N's periodic porous structure with negatively charged "holes," where the basic residues-such as lysine-can form stable interactions, thus functioning as "anchor points" in confining the protein displacement. It is suggested that the mild, immobilized protein attraction and biofriendly aspects of C₂ N would make it a prospective candidate in bio- and medical-related applications.

Revisiting the droplet simulation approach to derive force-field parameters for water on molybdenum disulfide from wetting angle measurements

Owing to its peculiar electronic properties, molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) has been the subject of a growing number of studies in the recent years. In applications, this material and other transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) may have to interact with a liquid or polymer phase as well as solutions of biomolecules. It is therefore of primary importance to understand the wetting and adhesion properties of TMDs. Starting from existing models, we derive Lennard-Jones parameters for the interaction between water and the basal plane of MoS₂ that are consistent with recent wetting experiments. Molecular dynamics simulations indicate that a stack of only two MoS₂ monolayers is necessary to capture the wetting behavior of bulk MoS₂. It is found that the Coulomb interaction between water and monolayer and bilayer MoS₂ plays no role in the related interfacial thermodynamics. Calculations with the optimized parameters show that the depth of the well of the interaction potential between water and bulk MoS₂ is of the order of 8.2 kJ/mol. Such a value is comparable with what was found for graphite and consistent with the fact that the wetting angles of water on graphite and MoS₂ are almost equal. The derivation of the force-field parameters is performed using a methodology which, contrary to previous studies, makes a consistent use of droplet calculations. The results of our work should find application in further simulation studies on the wetting behavior of TMDs and other dispersive materials.

Structural influence of proteins upon adsorption to MoS2 nanomaterials: comparison of MoS2 force field parameters

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) has recently emerged as a promising nanomaterial in a wide range of applications due to its unique and impressive properties.