Nanotoxicity: a challenge for future medicine

Abstract

Background/aim: Due to nanomaterials’ potential benefits for diagnosis and treatment, they are widely used in medical applicationsand personal care products. Interaction of nanomaterials, which are very small in size, with tissue, cell and microenvironment, canreveal harmful effects that cannot be created with chemically identical and larger counterparts in biological organisms. In this review, achallenge for future medicine, nanotoxicity of nanomaterials is discussed.Materials and methods: A detailed review of related literature was performed and evaluated as per medical applications of nanomaterialstheir toxicity.Results and conclusion: Most authors state “the only valid technology will be nanotechnology in the next era”; however, there is noconsensus on the impact of this technology on humankind, environment and ecological balance. Studies dealing with the toxic effect ofnanomaterials on human health have also varied with developing technology. Nanotoxicology studies such as in vivo-like on 3D humanorgans, cells, advanced genetic studies, and -omic approaches begin to replace conventional methods. Nanotoxicity and adverse effectsof nanomaterials in exposed producers, industry workers, and patients make nanomaterials a double-edged sword for future medicine.In order to control and tackle related risks, regulation and legislations should be implemented, and researchers have to conduct jointmultidisciplinary studies in various fields of medical sciences, nanotechnology, nanomedicine, and biomedical engineering.