Nano-safety Research: Examining the Associations among the Biological Effects of Nanoparticles and Their Physicochemical Properties and Kinetics

Abstract

In the past decade, nanotechnology has advanced rapidly, and many products containing nanoparticles are now an important part of our daily lives. Despite our increasing exposure to nanoparticles, however, information regarding the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity of nanoparticles remains limited. In this review, we introduce our group's ongoing research into the biological effects and toxicities of nanoparticles, which we broadly refer to as "nano-safety research." In addition to determining the biological effects of nanoparticles and elucidating the underlying mechanisms of those effects, we are also exploring the associations among the physicochemical properties and kinetics of nanoparticles. Furthermore, we are currently developing a battery of biomarkers that we hope will be used to predict the biological effects of nanoparticles during the early stages of development. Our research provides valuable basic information on the safety of nanoparticles. We hope that this information will be used for the development of better assessments of nanoparticles safety and for the creation of more appropriate regulations to ensure not only the safety but also the sustainability of nanotechnology.

Tissue distribution following 28 day repeated oral administration of aluminum‐based nanoparticles with different properties and the in vitro toxicity

“…The high stabilization of NPs within a biological system is essential for the application of NPs in medical and pharmacological fields (Lo, Kwon, Zhang, Singhal, & Bhatia, ; Mao, Tsai, Chen, Yan, & Wang, ; Utembe, Potgieter, Stefaniak, & Gulumian, ). However, it is well known that the properties of NPs are rapidly altered in biological fluids, thus NPs can induce different toxicity with that expected in the manufactured condition within the biological system (Higashisaka, Nagano, Yoshioka, & Tsutsumi, ; Nel et al, ). For example, in our previous study, the accumulation and toxicity of spherical AlONPs were more marked in mice exposed to γ‐aluminum oxide hydroxide NPs compared with those of γ‐AlONPs and α‐AlONPs due to their low stability within biological systems (Park, Lee, et al, ), and the surface coating of Zn oxide NPs with phosphate and sulfide, which have very low solubility in water, did not attenuate tissue distribution and toxicity of Zn oxide NPs following 28 days of oral administration due to the higher particlization rate of Zn oxide NPs in the intestine (Park, Jeong, Yoon, & Kim, ).…”

Guidance on risk assessment of the application of nanoscience and nanotechnologies in the food and feed chain: Part 1, human and animal health

“…• Where in vitro methods indicate lack of toxic effects, and in vitro dissolution of the nanomaterial in lysosomal and gastrointestinal conditions is fast, an argument can be put forward to EFSA for waiving in vivo studies on a case-by-case basis. distribution and/or metabolism and excretion) compared with larger sized materials and solutes with the same chemical composition (Hagens et al, 2007;Higashisaka et al, 2017).…”

Impact of zinc oxide nanoparticles on thioredoxin‐interacting protein and asymmetric dimethylarginine as biochemical indicators of cardiovascular disorders in gamma‐irradiated rats

“…Artificial nanomaterials categorized into four categories, which are carbon‐based that called carbon nanotubes (CNTs); metals‐based which include tiny semiconductor particles, gold and silver nanoparticles, and metal oxides; dendrimers which are nano‐sized polymers and composites nanomaterial that formed from the combination of NPs with other NPs or with huge materials. Nanoparticles of metals are utilized in different fields like medicine, agriculture, and industry …”

“…Nanoparticles of metals are utilized in different fields like medicine, agriculture, and industry. 18,19 The features of metal NPs like zinc oxide (ZnO) are described by diminishing their size to nano-scale that can change their physicochemical and morphological properties. These modifications enable NPs to transfer into inner cellular structures to react with cell biomolecules.…”