Objective Nanoparticles (from 1 to 1000 nM in diameter) are widely used in point-of-care diagnostics due to their large surface area and versatile biofunctionalization. However, when used in matrices such as blood plasma and other complex biological fluids, nanoparticles are known to attract proteins that form coronas around the nanoparticles. These coronas block binding sites, cause non-specific interactions, and cause aggregation among the nanoparticles, resulting in lower signals, higher background, and large variabilities in the assays. Proteomics studies have analyzed the overall protein corona composition on different nanoparticles, depending on size, surface chemistry etc. Microscopic studies have been used to monitor the kinetics of corona formation on nanoparticles in simplified systems. However, protein-protein interactions and cooperative effects in corona formation, and their interference in diagnostic assays involving affinity reagents, have not been studied yet in a comprehensive way. In this proposal, I will adress those questions using DNA-assisted protein technology, where proteins are labeled with DNA barcode tags. The ligation of proximal barcodes will reveal protein-protein co-localizations within coronas and their interactions with affinity reagents such as antibodies. The analysis will give unique insight in the internal structure of coronas and will shed light on the origin of corona-induced nanoparticle-nanoparticle aggregation processes and nanoparticle-surface interactions, which is very important for nanoparticle-based point-of-care diagnostics. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsproteomicsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNAnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopymedical and health scienceshealth sciencespersonalized medicineengineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materials Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2015-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2015 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinator TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT EINDHOVEN Net EU contribution € 165 598,80 Address Groene loper 3 5612 AE Eindhoven Netherlands See on map Region Zuid-Nederland Noord-Brabant Zuidoost-Noord-Brabant Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
