Nanoproteomics: a new sprout from emerging links between nanotechnology and proteomics

The complexity of proteomics challenges current methods to provide all peptide mass fingerprints in an ensemble measurement of various proteins at differing concentrations. To detect those low-abundance proteins, nanotechnology provides a technical platform to improve biocompatibility, specificity, reproducibility, and robustness of the current proteomic methods. Here, we comprehensively analyze the weaknesses of traditional proteomic methods and evaluate the importance of nanomaterials in significantly improving the quality of proteomic methods by manipulating individual proteins. We also illustrate how the large surface-to-volume ratio of nanomaterials can facilitate mass transfer, enhance the efficiency of separation and high-throughput capability, and reduce assay time and sample consumption. The marriage of the two subjects and the resulting new nanoproteomics will revolutionize proteomics research.

► Current proteomic techniques cannot detect all peptide fingerprints in biosamples. ► Nanotechnology has recently built a technical platform to improve biocompatibility, specificity, reproducibility, and robustness of proteomic analysis. ► Nanotechnologies convert microarrays into nanoarrays to overcome the detection limit. ► Nanomaterials can significantly improve the quality of proteomics by manipulating individual proteins.