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Review
. 2022 Jul 8;23(14):7597.
doi: 10.3390/ijms23147597.

Toxicologic Concerns with Current Medical Nanoparticles

Tsai-Mu Cheng  1   2 , Hsiu-Yi Chu  1 , Haw-Ming Huang  3 , Zi-Lin Li  4   5 , Chiang-Ying Chen  4   5 , Ya-Jung Shih  4   5 , Jacqueline Whang-Peng  6 , R Holland Cheng  7 , Ju-Ku Mo  5 , Hung-Yun Lin  6   7   8   9   10 , Kuan Wang  4
Affiliations
Review

Toxicologic Concerns with Current Medical Nanoparticles

Tsai-Mu Cheng et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Nanotechnology is one of the scientific advances in technology. Nanoparticles (NPs) are small materials ranging from 1 to 100 nm. When the shape of the supplied nanoparticles changes, the physiological response of the cells can be very different. Several characteristics of NPs such as the composition, surface chemistry, surface charge, and shape are also important parameters affecting the toxicity of nanomaterials. This review covered specific topics that address the effects of NPs on nanomedicine. Furthermore, mechanisms of different types of nanomaterial-induced cytotoxicities were described. The distributions of different NPs in organs and their adverse effects were also emphasized. This review provides insight into the scientific community interested in nano(bio)technology, nanomedicine, and nanotoxicology. The content may also be of interest to a broad range of scientists.

Keywords: cytotoxicity; ingestion; inhalation; medical applications; nanoparticles; nanotoxicity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Different types of NPs. Organic NPs: polymeric NPs, lipid-based NPs, and viral-based NPs; inorganic NPs: carbon-based NPs, metallic NPs, ceramic NPs, and semiconductor NPs.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Medical NPs deliver via passive targeting or active targeting mechanisms. Two types of delivery systems are applied in drug delivery. One is a passive targeting system that does not differentiate between targeted cells and normal cells. The other is the active targeting system that delivers drugs specifically to the targeted cells based on cell surface receptors or biomarkers.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Factors affect cellular uptake of NPs. The NP uptake by cells is determined by their surface charge, chemistry, size, and shape.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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