Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) strongly interact with biomolecules and cells due to their similar size scales. Consequently, ENMs are beginning to emerge as new medical diagnostic tools, probes in cell biology, and delivery vehicles, compelling us to understand the interactions at the nano-bio interface. Defects, which serve as entropic necessities to stabilize ENMs, strongly influence ENM biological interactions such as the formation and evolution of ENM-biocorona by altering both specific and non-specific interactions between ENMs and biomolecules. Optical spectroscopic tools, such as Raman spectroscopy, are excellent probes to characterize ENM defects and their interactions with biomolecules. This talk will discuss the influence of defects in carbon-based ENMs (e.g., single-walled carbon nanotubes and graphene), metal oxide nanoparticles (e.g., ZnO), and emerging two-dimensional materials (e.g., graphene and BN) on their biomolecular and ecological interactions. In particular, the role of defects in protein/natural organic matter adsorption, protein unfolding, and ensuing immune and toxic responses will be presented.

Spectroscopic insights into the role of defects in nano-bio interactions

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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