The Challenges and Opportunities of Protein Coronas for Nanoscale Biomolecular Sensing

Abstract

The unique benefits of sub-picomolar and single-molecule detection for the diagnosis and prognosis of diseases and therapeutic efficacy monitoring have been driving the development of nanoscale biomolecular sensors. Nanoscale sensors can be attached to the surface or dispersed in solution, enabling the rapid detection of analytes with high sensitivity and specificity by overcoming concentration-driven diffusion limits. In biological fluids, however, nanoscale objects are surrounded by biomolecules, mostly proteins, that form an evolving encapsulating surface layer, commonly known as the protein corona. The protein corona can modify the biosensor surface, which can adversely impact biosensing..