Nature Nanotechnology Journal Cover Design Service (Protein corona in the environment)

Nature Nanotechnology

11 June 2021

Environmental dimensions of the protein corona

Korin E. Wheeler^1✉, Andrew J. Chetwynd², Kira M. Fahy¹, Brian S. Hong¹, Jose A. Tochihuitl¹, Lilah A. Foster¹ and Iseult Lynch²

10.1038/s41565-021-00924-1

The protein corona acquired by nanoparticles in the environment shares many similarities with that formed on nanomedicines in the human body, but the diversity of available proteins is much higher arising from the functioning and decay of the breadth of plants, animals and microorganisms present in both aquatic and soil environments. Exploring the composition of the environmental protein corona offers an intriguing possibility to track the transport of nanomaterials through the environment and up the food chain, and to support modelling of nanomaterial transport and distribution. The cover image is an artistic depiction of the protein corona that forms in an aquatic environment, where the proteins are secreted by fish and aquatic plants, and share the nanoparticle surface with other molecules including natural organic matter and potential environmental pollutants.