Biomolecular "Crown" Now Observable, Thanks to a Novel Method

Nanomedicine is an emerging field of study that employs techniques, diagnostics, and therapies in the minute yet precise nanometer scale - and new research could help better observe these very small particles.

An international team, led by Morteza Mahmoudi from Michigan State University (MSU), has created a new technique that would help understand interactions between biomolecules. Nanomedicines promises greater efficacy and precision in delivering a patient's required medication exactly where it is needed. Additionally, this new tech could also reduce the side effects of administering medication. However, its size and precision also meant that aspects of its operations are difficult to observe, leaving it mostly confined to research applications instead of widespread medical use.

"There's been a considerable investment of taxpayer money in cancer nanomedicine research, but that research hasn't successfully translated to the clinic," Mahmoudi said in a news release from MSU.

Observing the Human Body at the Nanoscale

With their new method - built upon a new combination of existing microscopy techniques - researchers can now observe biomolecules at the nanometer scale. This allowed researchers to see significant differences between particles exposed to human plasma - the liquid, cell-free part of the blood that contains biomolecules like proteins, enzymes, antibodies, and keep the blood cells in suspension as they travel.

These biomolecules in the plasma latch onto a nanoparticle, which creates a coating called "corona," or crown. Researchers explain that the corona offers clues on how nanoparticles interact with the patient's biology. Details of their new technique, presenting the first detailed look at the corona, is detailed in the journal Nature Communications, January 25.

To make observations on the biological identity of nanoparticles, researchers used a "synergistic application of cry-electron microscopy, cryo-electron tomography, and three-dimensional reconstruction" to reveal the morphological details of these minute particles. While previous efforts have attempted to characterize the biomolecular corona - using methods such as gel electrophoresis, differential centrifugal sedimentation, conventional electron microscopy - but "fail to provide structural details."

Advancing Nanomedicine to Potentially Wider Adoption

"For the first time, we can image the 3-D structure of the particles coated with biomolecules at the nano level," Mahmoudi noted. He explains that the method will be a useful approach to get robust data for nanomedicines, adding that the data could help scientists decide on the nanomedicines' safety and efficacy.

While their work will ultimately advance therapeutic nanomedicines out of the research labs and into the clinic, Mahmoudi expressed had a conservative opinion regarding the wider adoption of these new particles. He added that a lot of things remain to be learned from these nanomaterials. Additionally, the study underscores an important requirement to further advance these particles - the potentially large impacts coming from the smallest variations in these experimental drugs.

Still, the MSU news release notes that Mahmoudi identifies the breakthrough as an opportunity, focusing on their potential as diagnostics agents instead of drugs or drug-delivery media. Instead of addressing the diseases directly, he believes in their potential for the early detection of diseases.

"We could become more proactive if we used nanoparticles as a diagnostic," he added.

Check out more news and information on Biomolecules in Science Times