Surface Functionalization of Nanoparticles for Enhanced Electrostatic Adsorption of Biomolecules

Electrostatic adsorption plays a crucial role in nanoparticle-based drug delivery, enabling the targeted and reversible loading of biomolecules onto nanoparticles. This review explores the fundamental mechanisms governing nanoparticle–biomolecule interactions, with a focus on electrostatics, van der...

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Main Authors: Marks Gorohovs, Yuri Dekhtyar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/15/3206
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author Marks Gorohovs
Yuri Dekhtyar
author_facet Marks Gorohovs
Yuri Dekhtyar
author_sort Marks Gorohovs
collection DOAJ
description Electrostatic adsorption plays a crucial role in nanoparticle-based drug delivery, enabling the targeted and reversible loading of biomolecules onto nanoparticles. This review explores the fundamental mechanisms governing nanoparticle–biomolecule interactions, with a focus on electrostatics, van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, and protein corona formation. Various functionalization strategies—including covalent modification, polymer coatings, and layer-by-layer assembly—have been employed to enhance electrostatic binding; however, each presents trade-offs in terms of stability, complexity, and specificity. Emerging irradiation-based techniques offer potential for direct modulation of surface charge without the addition of chemical groups, yet they remain underexplored. Accurate characterization of biomolecule adsorption is equally critical; however, the limitations of individual techniques also pose challenges to this endeavor. Spectroscopic, microscopic, and electrokinetic methods each contribute unique insights but require integration for a comprehensive understanding. Overall, a multimodal approach to both functionalization and characterization is essential for advancing nanoparticle systems toward clinical drug delivery applications.
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spelling doaj-art-6ecdfb9ca1ca41f6b2ba28cd315ab7062025-08-20T04:00:49ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-07-013015320610.3390/molecules30153206Surface Functionalization of Nanoparticles for Enhanced Electrostatic Adsorption of BiomoleculesMarks Gorohovs0Yuri Dekhtyar1Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Institute, Riga Technical University, Kipsalas Street 6B, LV-1048 Riga, LatviaMechanical and Biomedical Engineering Institute, Riga Technical University, Kipsalas Street 6B, LV-1048 Riga, LatviaElectrostatic adsorption plays a crucial role in nanoparticle-based drug delivery, enabling the targeted and reversible loading of biomolecules onto nanoparticles. This review explores the fundamental mechanisms governing nanoparticle–biomolecule interactions, with a focus on electrostatics, van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, and protein corona formation. Various functionalization strategies—including covalent modification, polymer coatings, and layer-by-layer assembly—have been employed to enhance electrostatic binding; however, each presents trade-offs in terms of stability, complexity, and specificity. Emerging irradiation-based techniques offer potential for direct modulation of surface charge without the addition of chemical groups, yet they remain underexplored. Accurate characterization of biomolecule adsorption is equally critical; however, the limitations of individual techniques also pose challenges to this endeavor. Spectroscopic, microscopic, and electrokinetic methods each contribute unique insights but require integration for a comprehensive understanding. Overall, a multimodal approach to both functionalization and characterization is essential for advancing nanoparticle systems toward clinical drug delivery applications.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/15/3206nanoparticlesbiomoleculesdrugsdrug–nanoparticle conjugatesadsorption processesproteins
spellingShingle Marks Gorohovs
Yuri Dekhtyar
Surface Functionalization of Nanoparticles for Enhanced Electrostatic Adsorption of Biomolecules
Molecules
nanoparticles
biomolecules
drugs
drug–nanoparticle conjugates
adsorption processes
proteins
title Surface Functionalization of Nanoparticles for Enhanced Electrostatic Adsorption of Biomolecules
title_full Surface Functionalization of Nanoparticles for Enhanced Electrostatic Adsorption of Biomolecules
title_fullStr Surface Functionalization of Nanoparticles for Enhanced Electrostatic Adsorption of Biomolecules
title_full_unstemmed Surface Functionalization of Nanoparticles for Enhanced Electrostatic Adsorption of Biomolecules
title_short Surface Functionalization of Nanoparticles for Enhanced Electrostatic Adsorption of Biomolecules
title_sort surface functionalization of nanoparticles for enhanced electrostatic adsorption of biomolecules
topic nanoparticles
biomolecules
drugs
drug–nanoparticle conjugates
adsorption processes
proteins
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/15/3206
work_keys_str_mv AT marksgorohovs surfacefunctionalizationofnanoparticlesforenhancedelectrostaticadsorptionofbiomolecules
AT yuridekhtyar surfacefunctionalizationofnanoparticlesforenhancedelectrostaticadsorptionofbiomolecules