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Interactions Between Proteins and Carbon‐Based Nanoparticles: Exploring the Origin of Nanotoxicity at the Molecular Level
Author(s) -
Zuo Guanghong,
Kang Seunggu,
Xiu Peng,
Zhao Yuliang,
Zhou Ruhong
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201201381
Subject(s) - nanotoxicology , nanomedicine , nanotechnology , nanomaterials , carbon nanotube , nanoparticle , stacking , materials science , carbon fibers , chemistry , biophysics , organic chemistry , biology , composite number , composite material
The widespread application of nanomaterials has spurred an interest in the study of interactions between nanoparticles and proteins due to the biosafety concerns of these nanomaterials. In this review, a summary is presented of some of the recent studies on this important subject, especially on the interactions of proteins with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and metallofullerenols. Two potential molecular mechanisms have been proposed for CNTs’ inhibition of protein functions. The driving forces of CNTs’ adsorption onto proteins are found to be mainly hydrophobic interactions and the so‐called π–π stacking between CNTs’ carbon rings and proteins’ aromatic residues. However, there is also recent evidence showing that endohedral metallofullerenol Gd@C 82 (OH) 22 can be used to inhibit tumor growth, thus acting as a potential nanomedicine. These recent findings have provided a better understanding of nanotoxicity at the molecular level and also suggested therapeutic potential by using nanoparticles’ cytotoxicity against cancer cells.