Interaction between synthetic particles and biomacromolecules: fundamental study of nonspecific interaction and design of nanoparticles that recognize target molecules

This article provides a brief review of the literature on the interaction between synthetic particles and biomacromolecules. Understanding the nonspecific interactions between biomacromolecules and synthetic particles is of great importance for using materials in vitro and in vivo. The interaction between functionalized polymer particles and proteins has been studied extensively to identify the main factor that governs the interaction in vitro. Recently, the composition and properties of the protein corona that forms on the surface of nanoparticles (NPs) in biofluids have been studied in the context of the function and distribution of the particles in vivo. In the meantime, NPs that recognize specific biomacromolecules have also been designed by tuning the combination and distribution of functional groups on gold NPs and dendrimers. It has also been shown that nano-gel particles that recognize target molecules can be achieved by (A) optimizing the combination and amount of functional groups in the particles and (B) molecular imprinting polymerization, in combination with (C) affinity purification. Some of these particles are capable of recognizing target molecules and neutralizing their function, even in the bloodstream of living animals, as 'plastic antibodies.'