Protein corona on biogenic silver nanoparticles provides higher stability and protects cells from toxicity in comparison to chemical nanoparticles. (1st November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Spagnoletti, Federico N.; Kronberg, Florencia; Spedalieri, Cecilia; Munarriz, Eliana; Giacometti, Romina
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental management. Volume 297(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-11-01
• Subjects: Green nanotechnology -- Silver nanoparticles -- Capping -- Proteomics; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; 363.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113434
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4797

Abstract

Abstract: The development of environmentally friendly new procedures for the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles is one of the main goals of nanotechnology. Proteins and enzymes from plants, filamentous fungi, yeast, and bacteria to produce nanoparticles are both valuable and viable alternatives to conventional synthesis of nanomaterials due to their high efficiency and the low cost to scale up and generate large quantities. The aim of this work is to compare biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) obtained from cell-free filtrates from the fungus Macrophomina phaseolina to conventional chemical AgNPs, in biocidal activity and toxicity. Our results show that bio-AgNPs displayed similar bactericidal activity than chemical AgNPs, but less toxicity in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans . We employed biochemical and proteomic techniques to profile the unique surface chemistry of the capping in the bio-AgNPs and therefore to identify the proteins involved in their synthesis and stability. These results not only suggest that the proteins involved in the synthesis of the nanoparticles and corona formation in the bio-AgNPs are responsible for keeping the silver core preserved making them more stable in time, but also masking and protecting eukaryotic cells from metal toxicity. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Bio-AgNPs presented similar bactericidal activity to conventional chemical AgNPs. Most proteins involved in the bio-AgNPs synthesis process were oxidoreductases. Secreted fungal proteins were part of the NPs corona architecture. Protein corona kept the NP metallic core preserved, leading to higher stability. Corona in bio-AgNPs masked the metal core, rendering low toxicity in eukaryotes.