Of course, as one changes from a flat surface to particles, and
as the particles become smaller (eventually approaching the size
of the proteins themselves), the composition and organization of
the associated protein will change dramatically, departing from the
simple limiting case of flat surfaces. We may expect this to lead to quite different biological consequences. Indeed, there is the potential that highly curved surfaces (very small nanoparticles) can suppress
protein adsorption to the point where it no longer occurs, an effect
likely to be selective to larger proteins, offering a route to differential
control of protein adsoption17. In addition, flat surfaces can only affect
biological process via cell surface receptors such as integrins, whereas
nanoparticles can enter cells and thereby access a vast range of extra
biological processes.