Gold and silver nanoparticle interactions with human proteins: impact and implications in biocorona formation

) at their physiological concentrations for 24 h. Time evolution data over 0, 6, 12 and 24 h revealed that irrespective of surface chemistry, rapid and prominent binding of HSA and IgG formed coronas over both citrate and lipoic acid coated Au and AgNP causing an increase in size, without agglomeration up to 24 h at 37 °C. In contrast, fibrinogen triggered agglomeration instantaneously upon contact with NP. These findings suggest that irrespective of NP surface chemistry or chemical composition, corona proteins at their physiological concentrations interact rather differently; wherein HSA and IgG coronas adsorbed strongly on the NP surface and kept both Au and AgNP well dispersed, while fibrinogen caused rapid, strong and irreversible agglomeration. Remarkably, individual protein coronas were observed to confer varied cellular uptake patterns for NP-protein complexes in human endothelial cells wherein HSA and IgG coronas showed higher cellular uptake compared to the fibrinogen corona.