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With development of the nanomedicine field and increasing hazards of exposure to nanobiological materials, research on the protein corona is urgently required. In particular, the understanding of the mechanism of structural changes of protein on a nanosurface should be improved. Herein, we focus on exploring the role of ligand adsorption modes (physiosorbed citrates or chemisorbed GSH) in the regulation of conformational rearrangement of three blood proteins (serum albumin, globulin, and fibrinogen) on the surface of gold nanoparticles. Through experimental measurements, protein adsorption features (thermodynamics, kinetics, adsorption orientation, and structural changes) were estimated. Molecular dynamics simulations further indicated that physiosorbed citrates could be gradually peeled off by approaching proteins and that the bare Au surface provided a stronger interface interaction than the chemisorbed GSH layer. Protein structure rearrangements were due to the reduction in protein internal energy, with an increase in H-bond formation involving a decrease in the α-helical content and an increase in the β-sheet content, to offset the high interfacial energy. Rearrangement of protein structures could occur either intramolecularly or intermolecularly. These findings enhanced our understanding of nano-protein interaction in the biological milieu and facilitate biomedical exploration of engineered nanomaterials.

A luminescent terbium metal–organic framework (Tb-MOF) was prepared using Tb3+ as metal ions and a boronic acid ligand (3,5-dicarboxybenzeneboronic acid) as linkers, which was successfully employed for the detection and scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in living cells. After the formation of the Tb-MOF, the luminescence of Tb3+ is sensitized by the organic linkers. In addition, the functionalization of boronic acid groups in the channels of MOFs also enhances the luminescence of Tb3+ ions through the antenna effect by adjusting the energy level of the ligand. In addition, the free boronic acid groups act as active sites and react with ROS due to a rapid nucleophilic addition reaction, which leads to the luminescence quenching of Tb-MOF. On the basis of these findings, the boronic acid-functionalized Tb-MOF can be used as an excellent ROS scavenger and a nanoprobe for highly selective and sensitive detection of ROS in living cells.

Pt nanoparticle (Pt NP)@UiO-66-NH2 composites were synthesized and encompassed the benefits of permanent porosity, high thermal and chemical stability of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), together with the functional behavior of isolated Pt NPs. The PVP-stabilized Pt NPs with the average diameter of 2.48 nm were well dispersed and confined within the framework of UiO-66-NH2. Pt NPs possess highly peroxidase-like activities and make the composites oxidize 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine in the presence of H2O2. Moreover, the specific interaction between Hg2+ and Pt NPs leads to the effective suppression of the peroxidase-like activity of Pt NP@UiO-66-NH2, which endows excellent selectivity for Hg2+ measurement over the interfering metal ions. Based on the colorimetric sensing system, Hg2+ is linearly measured over the range from 0 to 10 nM with a detection limit of 0.35 nM. Moreover, the as-obtained Pt NP@UiO-66-NH2 nanocomposites exhibit high capacity and good selectivity for Hg2+ adsorption, which is succe...