Formulation of charged modified nanoparticle-ligand complex to modulate receptor function of the neurons

Ligands are the molecules that bind with the receptors of the cells present on thesurface of the cell membrane and regulate cellular functions. The electric potential of a cellmembrane originates from both Nernst potential and the surface charge potential of themembrane. The interior side of the cell contains a higher concentration of potassium ionswith negatively charged protein and DNA molecules while the exterior side having richcalcium and sodium ions makes the cell membrane become polarized having interiornegative. The positively charged ion attracted to the anionic surface, of the plasma membranein the inner leaflet of the cell membrane. These change in the membrane potential which candirectly affect the activities of the plasma membrane. The intracellular activities mostlydepend upon the functional activities of the receptors. Alteration of receptor functions causesthe abnormal physiological activities of the cell. The abnormal receptor function modulationis important for survival of the cells. Ligands are the electrically charged particles and theelectric charge of the ligand can be modulated by nanoparticles. It is expected that aftercharge modification the ligand nanoparticle complex can alter the abnormal functions of thecell and can control the abnormal cellular activities. There are different neural and neurophysiological disorders that occur due to abnormal functional activities of the membranereceptor. Epilepsy and other excite-toxic disorders are associated with such types of abnormalfunctional activities of the cell receptors. Control of receptor functions through nanoparticlereceptor complex might be a therapeutic option to control receptor function-related neuraldisorders. The control of receptor function is a challenging work for neuroscientists anddifferent therapeutic preparations are applied to control the receptor functions. Different biomolecules are already in use to control the movement of ions through this receptor-mediatedentry and exist but the modulation of receptor function through charged alteration to controlionic movement regulation is a new concept. Functional activities and biomedicalapplicability are also enhanced by the conjugation of bio-molecules with gold nanoparticles[2]. This paper includes the critical study of ligand electrical charge modification byapplication of surface-functionalized nanoparticles investigated by different workers. Bothpositive and negative charged gold nanoparticles can be conjugated with gabapentin andother ligands. Gabapentin is a charged bio-molecule that has the effect on cell surfacereceptors and controls the entry and exit of chloride ions through the voltage-gated ionchannels. The charge of the gabapentin can be modulated after conjugation with negativelycharged gold nano-particle. The Conjugate is a stable compound and has biological activities.Biological activities and toxicity also depend upon the nanoparticle charge and ligandcharacteristics [3]. In general, conjugates having the same ligand showed more toxicity whenconjugated with positively charged nanoparticles than negatively charged nanoparticles [4].The interaction of the nanoparticle ligand complex with the receptor can modify the functional activities of the cell. Further study in this line will contribute more information about the charge specific functional alteration of cellular activities.