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REVIEW ARTICLE
PUBLISHED ONLINE: 14 JUNE 2009 | DOI: 10.1038/NMAT2442
Understanding biophysicochemical interactions at the nanobio interface
At the interface between nanomaterials and biological systems, the organic and synthetic worlds merge into a new science concerned with the safe use of nanotechnology and nano-
material design for biological applications. The nanobio interface comprises the dynamic physicochemical interactions, kinetics and thermodynamic exchanges between nanomaterial surfaces and the surfaces of biological components (for example proteins, membranes, phospholipids, endocytic vesicles, organelles, DNA and biological uids). For this eld to evolve, we must understand the dynamic forces and molecular components that shape these interactions. It is impossible to describe with certainty all the biophysicochemical interactions at play at the interface, but we are at a point where the pockets of assembled knowledge are providing a conceptual framework to guide this exploration. Here we explore such interfaces from the perspective of the forces governing colloidal chemistry and the adaptations that occur at biological interfaces. We focus on the biological interfaces that nanoparticles may encounter aer suspension in a tissue culture or biological medium, and aer interacting with cells (membrane surfaces, endosomal compartments, organelles and cytoplasm). We dene how these interactions modify the funda mental forces that govern nano-particle inter actions under classical colloidal conditions and discuss the development of methods for probing the nanobio interface.
Boundaries shaping the interface
The nanobio interface comprises three dynamically interacting components: (i) the nanoparticle surface, the characteristics of which are determined by its physicochemical composition; (ii) the solidliquid interface and the changes that occur when the particle interacts with components in the surrounding medium; (iii) the solidliquid interfaces contact zone with biological substrates (Fig. 1 and Table 1). In a given medium, the most important nanoparticle characteristics that determine the surface properties are the materials chemical composition, surface functionalization, shape and
Andre E. Nel1*, Lutz Mdler2, Darrell Velegol3, Tian Xia1, Eric M. V. Hoek4, Ponisseril Somasundaran5, Fred Klaessig6, Vince Castranova7 and Mike Thompson8
Rapid growth in nanotechnology is increasing the likelihood of engineered nanomaterials coming into contact with humans and the environment. Nanoparticles interacting with proteins, membranes, cells, DNA and organelles establish a series of nano-particle/biological interfaces that depend on colloidal forces as well as dynamic biophysicochemical interactions. These interactions lead to the formation...