Exploring the interactions of Ti3C2Tx, AgNPs, and Ti3C2Tx/AgNPs with human serum albumin: Insights into conformational changes and biotoxicity reduction

Abstract

Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) are toxic and can accumulate in the human body or the environment, resulting in biotoxic effects. Ti3C2Tx, a new class of graphene-like 2D nanomaterials, is used in numerous applications due to its special physicochemical properties. There is great concern about the potential damage that this material may cause to the environment and human health. In this study, the interaction mechanisms of Ti3C2Tx, AgNPs and Ti3C2Tx/AgNPs materials with human serum albumin (HSA) were characterized using multispectral analysis and zeta potential measurements, respectively. The results showed that the effects of the three materials on the conformational changes of HSA were AgNPs > Ti3C2Tx/AgNPs > Ti3C2Tx in order. Hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction forces played an important role in the binding process of Ti3C2Tx and its complexes with HSA. Ag nanoparticles have a comparatively high level of biotoxicity and have a more significant effect on the conformational changes of proteins. Ti3C2Tx itself has biocompatibility and a large specific surface area. The biotoxicity of Ti3C2Tx/AgNPs complex is lower than that of AgNPs, indicating that the addition of Ti3C2Tx can reduce the biotoxicity of Ag nanoparticles, and Ti3C2Tx may be used as a carrier substance for Ag nanoparticles, which can reduce the toxicity of AgNPs while giving it unique properties similar to those of Ti3C2Tx, thus improve the biosafety of Ag nanoparticles in the application process.

Keywords

• Ti3C2Tx/AgNPs
• Fluorescence spectroscopy
• Circular dichroism
• FTIR
• HSA conformational changes