The researchers proposed a strategy to study the whole in vivo metabolism and chemical transformation of nanomaterial by integrating multi-disciplinary techniques, such as in-situ characterization of protein corona, metabolic analysis methods, proteomics, and molecular dynamics simulations.
As an example, in vivo biological behaviour of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide nanomaterial MoS2 bridged by protein corona was studied systematically.
The researchers characterized the distribution and chemical forms of nanomaterials in target tissues and cells in-situ with high sensitivity and resolution by combining several synchrotron radiation-based techniques, i.e., X-ray fluorescence, X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy and soft X-ray nano-CT.
They realized the spatial distribution of nanoparticles at single-cell level. Also, they clarified the redox, degradation, metabolism and biochemical transformation behaviors of nanomaterials.
With the proteomics and molecular dynamics simulations, the researcher revealed the interaction mechanism of MoS2 with blood proteins and the functions of protein corona.
This study provides a new understanding of the complex chemical and biological effects and mechanisms regulated by nanoparticle-biological interface, and proved the process and mechanism of the bioavailability of nanomaterials bearing essential trace elements. Nanomaterial-based therapies or diagnostics need to pay more attention to the bioavailability in vivo and the underlying impacts on the effectiveness of drugs when transferring to their biomedical applications.