Recent Progress Toward the Spectroscopic Analysis of Biomacromolecule–Nanoparticle Interactions

The application of nanoparticles (NPs) for biomedical use is one of the fastest growing fields in science. The great potential has attracted attention from many fields, including chemistry, biology, medicine, and engineering. However, with relatively little understanding of biomacromolecule–NP interactions, there are increasing safety concerns about the use of nanomaterials in biomedical fields. To determine the biocompatibility of NPs and evaluate their nanosafety, great efforts are currently being made on investigating biomacromolecule–NP interactions. Spectroscopic methods and strategies play an important role in these investigations to help us understand the mechanistic basis for the biological activity of NPs, which is essential for the safe application of nanotechnology. Herein, in this chapter, we summarize the recent progress in the study of protein–NP, DNA–NP, and lipid–NP interactions based on various spectroscopic techniques.