ABSTRACT
Nanotoxicological studies are meant to define the extent to which nanomaterials pose threats to human health and negatively impact the environment. The most important biomedical applications of nanomaterials are in disease diagnosis, drug design, drug delivery, regenerative medicine, and treatment. The route of administration, the dose, and the extent of tissue distribution of nanomedicine are vital parameters in nanotoxicity. Endocytosis of spherical nanoparticles (NPs) has been observed to be relatively less toxic than rod-shaped or fiber-like NPs and, more importantly, that of spherical NPs, regardless of whether they are homogeneous or heterogeneous. Surface charge plays a key role in NP toxicity, as it defines their interactions with biological systems to a large extent. Copper NP–induced nephrotoxicity was observed in exposed rats by renal proximal tubule necrosis in kidneys, which was confirmed by renal gene expression profiling. A safety evaluation review of nanomaterial immunotoxicity tests shows that NPs can both stimulate and/or suppress immune responses.
