Comprehensive Multispectroscopic Analysis on the Interaction and Corona Formation of Human Serum Albumin with Gold/Silver Alloy Nanoparticles

J Phys Chem B. 2015 Jul 30;119(30):9461-76. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.5b00436. Epub 2015 Jul 13.

Abstract

In the present investigation, we have systematically studied the binding mechanism of model protein human serum albumin (HSA) with gold/silver alloy nanoparticles (Au/Ag NPs) using multiple spectroscopic techniques. Absorption spectral studies of Au/Ag NPs in the presence of increasing concentrations of HSA resulted in a slight red shift of the surface plasmon resonance band (SPR) of Au/Ag NPs, suggesting changes in the refractive index around the nanoparticle surface owing to the adsorption of HSA. The results from high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential analysis substantiated the formation of a dense layer of HSA on the surface of Au/Ag NPs. The formation of a ground-state complex between HSA and Au/Ag NPs was evident from the outcome of the steady-state emission titration experiments of the HSA-Au/Ag NPs system. The binding parameters computed from corrected emission quenching data revealed that HSA exhibited a significant binding affinity toward Au/Ag NPs. The identical fluorescence lifetime values of HSA and HSA-Au/Ag NPs from time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopic analysis further authenticated the findings of steady-state emission measurements. The formation of HSA corona on the Au/Ag NPs surface was established on the basis of experimental quenching data and theoretical values. The occurrence of partial unfolding of HSA upon its interaction with the Au/Ag NPs surface was established by using an extrinsic fluorophore 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonic acid (ANS). Absorption, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Raman, circular dichroism (CD), and excitation-emission matrix (3D) spectral studies were also carried out to explore Au/Ag NPs-induced tertiary and secondary conformational changes of HSA. The influence of Au/Ag NPs on the esterase-like activity of HSA was established by probing the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl acetate.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alloys / chemistry*
  • Esterases / metabolism
  • Gold / chemistry*
  • Gold / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Corona / chemistry*
  • Protein Corona / metabolism
  • Protein Structure, Secondary / drug effects
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary / drug effects
  • Serum Albumin / chemistry*
  • Serum Albumin / metabolism
  • Silver / chemistry*
  • Silver / pharmacology
  • Spectrum Analysis

Substances

  • Alloys
  • Protein Corona
  • Serum Albumin
  • Silver
  • Gold
  • Esterases