How Safe are Nanoparticles? A Review

Background: Nanoparticles are very small molecules with dimensions in nanometers. Nanoparticles have been used for various diagnostic, therapeutic and cosmetic purposes in the field of medicine. These particles have properties quite distinct from the same material of a larger scale, largely due to greater surface area in relation to volume. This also imparts potential toxicities to these agents. Objective: This article aims to review various particles and host factors that determine nanotoxicity. The common modes of entry of nanoparticles are discussed along with their kinetics and specific toxicities in the body. Methods: The main source of our information was Medline Pubmed, Google scholar and Scopus including original articles and review articles. The keywords nanotoxicity, nanotechnology and nanomedicine toxicity were used for search. Conclusion: The great enthusiasm about the use of nanoparticles has been marred by growing concerns about potential toxicities. Standardized and meticulous research about nanotoxicity before introduction in the market will douse this concern and prevent undue harm to the patient.