Influence of Protein Corona on the Transport of Molecules into Cells by Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles

Although there are several studies reporting the promising biological efficiency of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (loaded with antitumoral drugs) against cancer cells and tumors, there are no reports on the influence of the bio-nano interface interactions on the molecular diffusion process occurring along their pores. in this context, we show here that the protein coating formed on multifunctionalized colloidal mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) dispersed in a cell culture medium decreases the release of camptothecin (CPT, a hydrophobic antitumoral drug) from the pores of MSNs. This effect is related to the adsorption of biomolecules on the nanoparticle surface, which partially blocks the pores. Parallely, the hydrophobic functionalization inside the pores can offer suitable sites for the adsorption of other molecules present in the cell culture medium depending on the hydrophobicity, size, and conformation aspects of these molecules and adsorption sites of MSNs. Thus, the molecular cargo loaded in the pores (i.e. CPT) can be replaced by specific molecules present in the dispersion medium. As a consequence, we show that a non-permeable cellular staining molecule such as SYTOX green can be incorporated in MSNs through this mechanism and internalized by cells in an artificial fashion. By extrapolating this phenomenon for applications. in vivo, one has to consider now the possible manifestation of unpredicted biological effects from the use of porous silica nanoparticles and others with similar structure due to these internalization aspects.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)INCT-InomatUniv Estadual Campinas, Inst Quim, Lab Quim Biol, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP, BrazilUniv Estadual Campinas, Inst Quim, Lab Quim Estado Solido, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Bioquim, BR-04044020 São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed ABC, Ctr Ciencias Nat & Humanas, BR-09210580 Santo Andre, SP, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Ciencias Biol, BR-09972270 Diadema, SP, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Bioquim, BR-04044020 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Ciencias Biol, BR-09972270 Diadema, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc