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Review
. 2021 Jul 30:2021:9954443.
doi: 10.1155/2021/9954443. eCollection 2021.

Toxicity of Nanoparticles in Biomedical Application: Nanotoxicology

Chukwuebuka Egbuna  1   2   3 , Vijaykumar K Parmar  4 , Jaison Jeevanandam  5 , Shahira M Ezzat  6   7 , Kingsley C Patrick-Iwuanyanwu  1   2 , Charles Oluwaseun Adetunji  8 , Johra Khan  9   10 , Eugene N Onyeike  1   2 , Chukwuemelie Zedech Uche  11 , Muhammad Akram  12 , Mervat S Ibrahim  13 , Nihal M El Mahdy  13 , Chinaza Godswill Awuchi  14 , Kaliyaperumal Saravanan  15 , Habibu Tijjani  16 , Uchenna Estella Odoh  17 , Mohammed Messaoudi  18   19 , Jonathan C Ifemeje  3 , Michael C Olisah  20 , Nebechi Jane Ezeofor  21 , Chukwudi Jude Chikwendu  3 , Chinwe Gloria Ibeabuchi  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Toxicity of Nanoparticles in Biomedical Application: Nanotoxicology

Chukwuebuka Egbuna et al. J Toxicol. .

Abstract

Nanoparticles are of great importance in development and research because of their application in industries and biomedicine. The development of nanoparticles requires proper knowledge of their fabrication, interaction, release, distribution, target, compatibility, and functions. This review presents a comprehensive update on nanoparticles' toxic effects, the factors underlying their toxicity, and the mechanisms by which toxicity is induced. Recent studies have found that nanoparticles may cause serious health effects when exposed to the body through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact without caution. The extent to which toxicity is induced depends on some properties, including the nature and size of the nanoparticle, the surface area, shape, aspect ratio, surface coating, crystallinity, dissolution, and agglomeration. In all, the general mechanisms by which it causes toxicity lie on its capability to initiate the formation of reactive species, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and neurotoxicity, among others.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Typical shapes of nanomaterials.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Characteristics and mechanisms of metal nanoparticles toxicity.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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