%0 Journal Article
%T Adsorption of Cellular Proteins to Polyelectrolyte-Functionalized Gold Nanorods: A Mechanism for Nanoparticle Regulation of Cell Phenotype?
%A Patrick N. Sisco
%A Christopher G. Wilson
%A Davin Chernak
%A Jessica C. Clark
%A Elissa M. Grzincic
%A Kayla Ako-Asare
%A Edie C. Goldsmith
%A Catherine J. Murphy
%J PLOS ONE
%D 2014
%I Public Library of Science (PLoS)
%R 10.1371/journal.pone.0086670
%X Cell behavior in the presence of nanomaterials is typically explored through simple viability assays, but there is mounting evidence that nanomaterials can have more subtle effects on a variety of cellular functions. Previously our lab demonstrated that gold nanorods functionalized with polyelectrolyte multi-layers inhibited rat cardiac fibroblast-mediated remodeling of type I collagen scaffolds by altering fibroblast phenotype and the mechanical properties of the collagen network. In this work, we examine a possible mechanism for these effects: adsorption of cellular proteins by the nanorods. Mass spectrometric and gel electrophoresis of media collected from cultured cells suggests that a number of proteins, some of which mediate cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, adsorb onto the surface of these nanoparticles in vitro. Polyethylene glycol coating of the nanorods largely mitigates protein adsorption and fibroblast-mediated collagen remodeling. These results suggest that adsorption of proteins by nanorods could have a significant effect on cell functions, including fibroblast-mediated matrix remodeling.
%U http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0086670