Interaction of
serum proteins and nanoparticles leads to a nanoparticle-
protein complex formation that defines the rational strategy for a clinically relevant formulation for
drug delivery,
hyperthermia, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications in
cancer nanomedicine. Given this perspective, we have examined the pattern of human
serum protein corona formation with our recently engineered magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). The alteration in particle size, zeta potential, hemotoxicity, cellular uptake/
cancer cells targeting potential, and MRI properties of the MNPs after formation of human serum (HS)
protein corona were studied. Our results indicated no significant change in particle size of our MNPs upon incubation with 0.5-50 wt/v% human serum, while zeta potential of MNPs turned negative due to human serum adsorption. When incubated with an increased serum and particle concentration,
apolipoprotein E was adsorbed on the surface of MNPs apart from
serum albumin and
transferrin. However, there was no significant primary or secondary structural alterations observed in
serum proteins through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and circular dichroism.
Hemolysis assay suggests almost no
hemolysis at the tested concentrations (up to 1 mg/mL) for MNPs compared to the
sodium dodecyl sulfate (positive control). Additionally, improved internalization and uptake of MNPs by C4-2B and Panc-1
cancer cells were observed upon incubation with human serum (HS). After
serum protein adsorption to the surface of MNPs, the close vicinity within T1 (∼1.33-1.73 s) and T2 (∼12.35-13.43 ms) relaxation times suggest our MNPs retained inherent MRI potential even after biomolecular
protein adsorption. All these superior clinical parameters potentially enable clinical translation and use of this formulation for next generation nanomedicine for
drug delivery,
cancer-targeting, imaging and
theranostic applications.