9 - Toxicity of nanostructured biomaterials

Abstract

Research in the field of nanotechnology-based biomaterials is growing at a rapid pace. An array of biomaterials has been developed for their prospective applications in drug delivery, diagnosis, theragnosis, photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, bioengineering, and biomedical engineering. Looking towards the immense range and number of potential applications for, and adoptability of nanomaterials, there is an increasing need to understand, analyze, and establish their toxicity profile. There is an urgent need to focus the investigations towards expounding the toxicity and risks associated with these nanostructured biomaterials on human health and/or environment. This chapter aims to provide a comprehensive overview of information pertaining to nanostructured biomaterials' nanotoxicology, pathways at the small level (cell), entry routes inside the human body, and their potential implications towards human health. Appropriate determination of nanostructured biomaterials and development of an understanding of their surface chemistry/reactivity (when they come into contact with biological membranes) are important to elucidate potential toxicological risks. This chapter also briefly discusses some of the emerging and most widely employed nanostructured biomaterials (such as those utilizing gold, silver, silica, selenium, cerium oxide, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, as well as polymeric and carbonaceous nanomaterials) and unveils the benefits and toxicological risk factors associated with their biomedical applications.