Interaction of TiO2 nanoparticles with lung fluid proteins and the resulting macrophage inflammatory response

Inhalation is a major nanoparticle exposure pathway. Following inhalation, nanoparticles first interact with the lung lining fluid, a complex mixture of proteins, lipids, and mucins. We measure the concentration and composition of lung fluid proteins adsorbed on the surface of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles. Using proteomics, we find that lung fluid results in a unique protein corona on the surface of the TiO2 nanoparticles.