Nanotechnology and Nanotoxicology

Abstract

Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter in dimensions <100 nm. At this size, matter can take on different chemical and physical properties, giving the products characteristics useful to industry, medicine and technology. Government funding and private investors provide billions of research dollars for the development of new materials and applications. The potential utility of these technologies is such that they are expected be a trillion-dollar industry within the next 10 years. However, the novel properties of nanoengineered materials lead to the potential for different toxicity compared with the bulk material. The field of nanotoxicology is still in its infancy, however, with very limited literature regarding potential health effects. Inhalational toxicity is to be expected, given the known effects of inhaled fine particulate matter. However, the degree to which most nanoparticles will aerosolise remains to be determined. It has been proposed that dermal exposure will be the most relevant route of exposure, but there is considerably less literature regarding dermal effects and absorption. Less defined still are the potential effects of nanoproducts on fetal development and the environment.

Assessing nanoparticle toxicity in cell-based assays: influence of cell culture parameters and optimized models for bridging the in vitro–in vivo gap

“…The protein corona can also stimulate opsonisation by macrophages in vivo, thereby activating the complement system and evoking an immune reaction 70 . Another plausible pathway to immunotoxicity is the enhancement of an allergic immune response, which by Nygaard et al observed for single-and multi-walled carbonnotubes (CNT) in mice 71,72 .…”

Potencial risks of nanoparticles

“…Nanoparticles can also reach sensory skin nerves after the injection of nanoparticles in the tongue and facial muscles of mice. Cationized nanoparticles Forbe; García; Gonzalez Clearance and opsonization -the process that prepares foreign material to be more efficiently engulfed by macrophages -occur under certain conditions for nanoparticles depending on size and surface characteristics (CURTIS et al, 2006). When inhaled, nanoparticles are found to be distributed to the lungs, liver, heart, and kidney.…”

“…In rodents, ultrafine particles cause mild pulmonary inflammatory responses and have effects on extrapulmonary organs (OBERDORSTER et al, 2005). Dosing with both natural and anthropogenic nanosized particles, in vitro studies showed pro-inflammatory and oxidative stress related cellular response (OBERDORSTER et al, 2005;CURTIS et al, 2006;LANONE;BOCZKOWSKI, 2006).…”

“…Carbon black was ingested by macrophages in the alveolar region and resided predominantly in this site. In comparison, macrophages that ingested CNTs migrated to centrilobular locations and caused interstitial granulomas (OBERDORSTER et al, 2005;CURTIS et al, 2006). Pharyngeal aspiration of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) caused increased inflammation and cell damage.…”

“…When SWCNTs and MWCNTs were compared to C60 fullerenes, they showed greater cytotoxicity to alveolar macrophages (SWCNTNNMWCNTNNC60) (KAGAN; BAYIR; SHVEDOVA, 2005). C60 fullerenes are allotropic forms of carbon that are arranged in clusters and are also used as nanocarrier systems (OBERDORSTER et al, 2005;CURTIS et al, 2006;KAGAN;BAYIR;SHVEDOVA, 2005).…”