Health Concerns of Various Nanoparticles: A Review of Their in Vitro and in Vivo Toxicity

Abstract

Nanoparticles (NPs) are currently used in diagnosis and treatment of many human diseases, including autoimmune diseases and cancer. However, cytotoxic effects of NPs on normal cells and living organs is a severe limiting factor that hinders their use in clinic. In addition, diversity of NPs and their physico-chemical properties, including particle size, shape, surface area, dispersity and protein corona effects are considered as key factors that have a crucial impact on their safe or toxicological behaviors. Current studies on toxic effects of NPs are aimed to identify the targets and mechanisms of their side effects, with a focus on elucidating the patterns of NP transport, accumulation, degradation, and elimination, in both in vitro and in vitro models. NPs can enter the body through inhalation, skin and digestive routes. Consequently, there is a need for reliable information about effects of NPs on various organs in order to reveal their efficacy and impact on health. This review covers the existing knowledge base on the subject that hopefully prepares us better to address these challenges.

Role of Nanomaterials in the Treatment of Wastewater: A Review

“…Gold nanorods doped poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) composite Non-toxic [177] TiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 /Carbon black Composite More toxic at micron particle sized [177] Hexadecylcetyltrimethylammoni um bromide (CTAB) doped Au nano rode composite High toxic at certain Concentration [178] Fe 2 O 3 and carbon nanotubes Composite It showed toxic effects and damage DNA even at lowest concentration [179] Carbon, metal, Al 2 O 3 composite Concentration-and time-dependent. [180] CdSe Quantum dots doped with polyvinylcarbazole composite Acute toxicity observed [181] Single and Multi-walled carbon Nanotubes Toxicity increases when concentration rises beyond 15 µg/cm. [182] Au/Carbon composite Non-toxic at lower range.…”

The Current Understanding of Autophagy in Nanomaterial Toxicity and Its Implementation in Safety Assessment-Related Alternative Testing Strategies

“…Laboratory mice are popular research models because of their size, availability, ease of handling, and high genetic similarity to humans. Many mice and rat models are well-established and widely used in pharmacological and toxicological studies of NMs [105,106]. Using mouse models for precisely controlled exposure to NMs, we can perform NMs toxicity assessment include LD50, biodistribution, clearance, hematology, serum chemistry, and histopathology.…”

“…NMs is widely used in multiple medical applications, so the potential side effect of these NMs has become an important issue. As the in vitro and in vivo effects of NPs are not fully matched, side effects cannot be accurately estimated by in vitro tests, it is recognized that animal tests are essential for safety assessment of these medical NMs [106]. For example, AgNPs is one of the most common NMs in medical use because of its antimicrobial activity.…”

Protein Corona Composition of Silica Nanoparticles in Complex Media: Nanoparticle Size does not Matter

“…Even though those NPs are deemed safe by many national authorities, their ability to be internalized [2,3] and translocated from an organ to another [4,5] raises concern about potential harmful effects. The potential toxicity of a given NP cannot be well monitored by classical toxicological studies [6], and new approaches have to be developed [7,8]. Indeed, NPs' presence in a biological medium can trigger indirect biological effects (e.g., cytotoxicity [9], activation of inflammatory responses [10]).…”