Engineered nanomaterial exposure and the risk of allergic disease

Abstract

Although the production and use of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) is rapidly increasing, we lack sufficient knowledge regarding their capacity to induce and/or promote allergic disease. As novel ENMs are being developed and used for biomedical applications, such as drug delivery, it will be critical to understand the relationship between physicochemical properties of ENMs and possible mechanisms of immunomodulation. Cellular studies and a few animal studies have begun to examine the immunomodulatory effects of ENM exposure that may be predictive of developing allergic reactions. Specifically, the effects of direct ENM exposure on key immune cells recognized to facilitate allergic disease has been evaluated and will be discussed. However, few studies have reported specific physicochemical properties of ENMs that initiate allergic immune responses. Although limited, these descriptive studies point to the induction of cellular mechanisms that are well known to promote allergic disease. The limited data currently available suggest that there is a potential risk for the development of allergic responses following exposure to ENMs. As more ENMs are developed for consumer products and nanomedicines, further study on their potential for adverse immune interactions will be necessary for safe implementation of these novel materials.