Influence of protein corona on cytotoxicity of metal oxide nanoparticles against human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT)

The model identified, among the factors determining the cytotoxic properties of metal oxide nanoparticles against HaCaT cell lines, a number of variables related to the processes occurring on the surface of nanoparticles in a biological medium, including the ability to form protein corona. The selected descriptors describe both the electronic structure of the metal oxides that are the components of the nanoparticles, i.e. the ionization potential (IP_ActivM_SM_#1, IP_ActivM_SM_#2) and the initial nanoforms, i.e. the particle size (Primary size) and the percentage content of the metal oxide which is the main component of the nanoparticle (Purity_#1) ; characterize nanoparticles in the medium, i.e. the isoelectric point (PZZP_#2), stability (Stability), potential for dissolution (Dissolution), generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS production) and protein adsorption (Protein adsorption). The listed descriptors reflect the features that are discussed in the literature as potentially related to the toxic effect of nanoparticles.