Mariangela De Burgos Martins De Azevedo’s research while affiliated with Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais and other places

X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) is an underexplored synchrotron-based technique for dynamic in situ nano-bio interface investigations, which overcomes the limitations of conventional techniques in complex biological fluids. This study highlights XPCS as a powerful tool to distinguish phenomena like protein corona and nanoparticle aggregation in increasingly complex protein media.

In biological systems, nanoparticles interact with biomolecules, which may undergo protein corona formation that can result in noncontrolled aggregation. Therefore, comprehending the behavior and evolution of nanoparticles in the presence of biological fluids is paramount in nanomedicine. However, traditional lab-based colloid methods characterize diluted suspensions in low-complexity media, which hinders in-depth studies in complex biological environments. Here, we apply X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) to investigate silica nanoparticles (SiO 2) in various environments, ranging from low to high complex biological media. Interestingly, SiO 2 revealed Brownian motion behavior, irrespective of the complexity of the chosen media. Moreover, the SiO 2 surface and media composition were tailored to underline the differences between a corona-free system from protein corona and aggregates formation. Our results highlighted XPCS potential for real-time nanoparticle analysis in biological media, surpassing the limitations of conventional techniques and offering deeper insights into colloidal behavior in complex environments.