Abstract:Nanoparticles, as a novel material, have a wide range of applications in the food and biomedical fields. Nanoparticles spontaneously adsorb proteins in the biological environment, and tens or even hundreds of proteins can form protein corona on the surface of nanoparticles. The formation of protein corona on the surface of nanoparticles is one of the key factors affecting the stability, biocompatibility, targeting, and drug release properties of nanoparticles. The formation mechanism of protein corona is affected by a variety of factors, including the surface chemical properties, sizes, and shapes of nanoparticles and the types, concentrations, and pH of proteins. Studies have shown that the protein structure is associated with protein distribution on the nanoparticle surface, while the protein conformation affects the binding mode and stability of the protein on the nanoparticle surface. Since the mechanism of the formation of protein corona on the surface of nanoparticles is complex, the roles of multiple factors need to be considered comprehensively. Understanding the mechanisms and influencing factors of the formation of protein corona will help us to understand the process of protein corona formation and control the formation of protein corona for specific needs. In this paper, we summarize the recent studies on the mechanisms and influencing factors of the formation of protein corona on the surface of nanoparticles, with a view to providing a theoretical basis for in-depth research on protein corona.