Cell–particle interactions articles from across Nature Portfolio

Characterizing the soft protein corona on nanoparticles i.e. the outer layer of the corona, remains a longstanding challenge. Here, the authors develop an in situ method to monitor the dynamic processes of multilayered corona formation and evolution that offers a universal strategy to characterize the soft corona proteome.

New mechanistic insights into nanoparticle–plant interactions show that specifically designed silica nanoparticles have the potential to serve as an inexpensive, highly efficient, safe and tracelessly degradable alternative for pesticides.

Understanding the biological identity of nanoparticles has mainly focused on the hard protein corona with the soft corona largely overlooked. Here, using click-chemistry, the authors report on a capture system for the identification of the soft corona proteins and investigate the effects on cell interactions.

The interaction between proteins and nanomaterials is complex and of interest for controlling nanoparticle fate. Here, using experimental and computational methods, the authors report on the effect of hydroxyl groups on protein interaction and how they can be used to enhance circulation times.