ABSTRACT
Novel nanomaterials (NMs) are playing key roles in nanotechnology innovations. As a consequence of their small size, NMs exhibit unique physicochemical properties and biological effects as compared to their respective bulk materials. NMs are increasingly used in a wide variety of industrial processes and consumer products. Although the obvious benecial effects of NMs are well recognized, the increased presence of NMs raises concerns about the adverse effects on the environment, health, and society (so-called NanoEHS). There is growing evidence to suggest that complicated interaction processes may occur between NMs and biological systems [1,2] and to show that NMs, including carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, quantum dots such as CdS, oxide nanoparticles (NPs) such as ZnO, and CuO and TiO2, exhibit various toxic effects on biological systems [3-6].
