The selective interaction between silica nanoparticles and enzymes from molecular dynamics simulations

PLoS One. 2014 Sep 22;9(9):e107696. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107696. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Nanoscale particles have become promising materials in many fields, such as cancer therapeutics, diagnosis, imaging, drug delivery, catalysis, as well as biosensors. In order to stimulate and facilitate these applications, there is an urgent need for the understanding of the interaction mode between the nano-particles and proteins. In this study, we investigate the orientation and adsorption between several enzymes (cytochrome c, RNase A, lysozyme) and 4 nm/11 nm silica nanoparticles (SNPs) by using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Our results show that three enzymes are adsorbed onto the surfaces of both 4 nm and 11 nm SNPs during our MD simulations and the small SNPs induce greater structural stabilization. The active site of cytochrome c is far away from the surface of 4 nm SNPs, while it is adsorbed onto the surface of 11 nm SNPs. We also explore the influences of different groups (-OH, -COOH, -NH2 and CH3) coated onto silica nanoparticles, which show significantly different impacts. Our molecular dynamics results indicate the selective interaction between silicon nanoparticles and enzymes, which is consistent with experimental results. Our study provides useful guides for designing/modifying nanomaterials to interact with proteins for their bio-applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cytochromes c / metabolism*
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Muramidase / metabolism*
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Ribonuclease, Pancreatic / metabolism*
  • Silicon Dioxide / chemistry*

Substances

  • Silicon Dioxide
  • Cytochromes c
  • Ribonuclease, Pancreatic
  • Muramidase

Grants and funding

The work is supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program, Grant No. 2012CB932400 and 2010CB934500), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 91233115, 21273158, and 91227201), a Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD). This is also a project supported by the Fund for Innovative Research Teams of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.