ABSTRACT
Nanotechnology is a rising field that promises a revolution in the industrial and medical sector. With the dynamic growth of nanoscience, an enormous investigation on nanomaterials has been taking place because of their unique properties; for example, upgraded electrical, catalytic, mechanical, and magnetic properties. Nanosubstances have distinctive physicochemical properties owing to their tremendously small size, in addition to a large surface area. They are currently used worldwide in many commercial and biomedical field such as in cosmetics, creams, lotions, drug-delivery agents, biosensor, imaging contrast agents, etc. Due to increased exposure of nanomaterials to the public through consumer products, an improved screening of nanogenotoxicity is required. According to much recent research, the extremely small size and large surface area of nanomaterials are the main reasons for their cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. Before their widespread commercialization, it is important to completely evaluate the effect of nanosubstances on humans and the environment. According to reports in the literature, nanomaterials cause damage to chromosomes, break DNA strands, point mutation, change gene expression profiles, and oxidative DNA adducts. Apart from all this information, still the connection between physicochemical characteristics that cause the genotoxicity and promotes the carcinogenesis is fairly missing. This chapter provides a summary of nanogenotoxicity, nanomaterials’ physicochemical characterization, their routes of exposure, interaction with cells, and on methods of assessing the toxicity.
