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Shape dependent protein induced stabilization of gold nanoparticles: from protein corona perspective.
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  • Anastasiia Tukova,
  • Yihan Nie,
  • Mohammad Tavakkoli Yaraki,
  • Ngoc Tran,
  • Jiaqiu Wang,
  • Alison Rodger,
  • Yuantong Gu,
  • Yuling Wang
Anastasiia Tukova
Macquarie University
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Yihan Nie
Queensland University of Technology
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Mohammad Tavakkoli Yaraki
Macquarie University
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Ngoc Tran
Macquarie University
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Jiaqiu Wang
Queensland University of Technology
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Alison Rodger
Macquarie University
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Yuantong Gu
Queensland University of Technology
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Yuling Wang
Macquarie University

Corresponding Author:yuling.wang@mq.edu.au

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Abstract

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are promising materials for many bioapplications. However, upon contacting with biological media, GNPs undergo changes. The interaction with proteins results in the so-called protein corona (PC) around GNPs, leading to the new bioidentity and optical properties. Understanding the mechanisms of PC formation and its functions can help us to utilise its benefits and avoid its drawbacks. To date, most of the previous works aimed to understand the mechanisms governing PC formation and focused on the spherical nanoparticles although non-spherical nanoparticles are designed for a wide range of applications in biosensing. In this work, we investigated the differences in PC formation on spherical and anisotropic GNPs (nanostars in particular) from the joint experimental (extinction spectroscopy, zeta potential and surface enhanced Raman scattering [SERS]) and computational methods (the finite element method and molecular dynamics [MD] simulations). We discovered that protein does not fully cover the surface of anisotropic nanoparticles, leaving SERS hot-spots at the tips and high curvature edges “available” for analyte binding (no SERS signal after pre-incubation with protein) while providing protein-induced stabilization (indicated by extinction spectroscopy) of the GNPs by providing a protein layer around the particle’s core. The findings are confirmed from our MD simulations, the adsorption energy significantly decreases with the increased radius of curvature, so that tips (adsorption energy: 2762.334 kJ/mol) would be the least preferential binding site compared to core (adsorption energy: 11819.263 kJ/mol). These observations will help the development of new nanostructures with improved sensing and targeting ability.
08 Dec 2022Submitted to Aggregate
09 Dec 2022Submission Checks Completed
09 Dec 2022Assigned to Editor
11 Dec 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
28 Dec 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
03 Jan 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
13 Jan 20231st Revision Received
13 Jan 2023Submission Checks Completed
13 Jan 2023Assigned to Editor
13 Jan 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
23 Jan 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
24 Jan 2023Editorial Decision: Accept