Evaluating the effect of albumin protein coating on corona composition of single walled carbon nanotubes

Protein coating as an outstanding surface modification strategy can influence the organization of biomolecules in the interface with nanomaterials. In the present study, human serum albumin (HSA) were applied to modify the surface chemistry of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and carboxylated SWNTs (CO2-SWNTs). This study was conducted to discover the effect of protein coating on the protein corona composition and biological activity of both SWNT types. Different methodologies were performed in order to characterize the physicochemical properties of both SWNTs after surface modification. The results showed that HSA followed changed the biomolecular organization of SWNTs and CO2-SWNTs coronas . Protein coating also changed the plasmon intensity of both SWNT derivatives which affected the efficacy of their interaction with proteins existed in plasma. Moreover, both SWNTs coronas revealed less cytotoxicity and cellular uptake in comparison to bulk samples. It can be concluded that surface modification of SWNTs with different protein can alter the corona pattern that consequently affect the biological behavior of these nanomaterials.