ABSTRACT
Background: Nanoparticles (NPs) receive attention in biomedical applications due to their unique chemical and surface properties. The biocompatibility, in vivo stability, biological performance as well as side effects caused by NPs are specified by the interactions between NPs and biological systems.
Methods: The aim of this chapter was to review the interactions of innate and adaptive immune systems with NPs. Some examples for the current applications in biomedical imaging, diagnostics and drug, gene and vaccine delivery systems of various types of NPs are also reviewed briefly.
Take home message: Immune responses against the NPs may be mostly driven by the interaction of NPs with macrophages and other circulating or resident cells of innate immune system. Moreover, NPs can stimulate both cellular and humoral immunity in the adaptive immune system. NPs can stimulate or suppress immune responses due to their capacity of protein binding and their unique physicochemical properties.
Conclusion: Nanoparticles offer great potential for developing new treatments and diagnostic approaches in medicine and numerous new products are at the stage of phase II/III studies with extensive research effort and funding worldwide. Therefore, understanding how the immune system responds to NPs is necessary for the development of safer NPs for biomedical applications and for the vaccine or therapeutics delivery.
