Assembly and Degradation of Inorganic Nanoparticle in Biological Environment

In solution, nanoparticles may be conceptually compartmentalized into cores and engineered surface coatings. Recent advances allow for simple and accurate characterization of nanoparticle cores and surface shells. After introduction into complex biological environment, adsorption of biological molecules to the nanoparticle surface as well as a loss of original surface components occur. Thus, colloidal nanoparticles in the context of biological environment are hybrid materials with complex structure, which may result in different chemical, physical, and biological outcomes as compared to the original engineered nanoparticles. In this perspective, we will discuss building up an engineered inorganic nanoparticle from its inside core to its outside surface, and following its degradation in biological environment from its outside to its inside. This will involve the way to synthesize selected inorganic nanoparticles. Then, we will discuss the environmental changes upon exposure of these nanoparticles to biolog...