Open questions: how do engineered nanomaterials affect our cells?

Laura Segatori,Daniela Barrios

doi:10.1186/s12915-020-00922-0

Abstract

Our cells have evolutionarily conserved mechanisms that battle foreign and toxic materials to maintain cellular homeostasis and viability. How do these cellular machineries respond to engineered nanomaterials?

Highlights

Our cells have evolutionarily conserved mechanisms that battle foreign and toxic materials to maintain cellular homeostasis and viability
Nanomaterials are generally defined as having at least one dimension that is less than 100 nm and they may be produced in the form of particles, tubes, rods, or fibers
The features of nanomaterial-based products depend on the specific physicochemical properties of nanomaterials, which can be modulated with respect to core composition, size, shape, charge, and surface functionalization

Summary

Introduction

Our cells have evolutionarily conserved mechanisms that battle foreign and toxic materials to maintain cellular homeostasis and viability. The interactions between nanomaterials and human cells and their components remain largely uncharacterized, and fundamental questions about cellular responses ranging from the uptake of nanomaterials, to their effects on specific cellular machineries, are only being explored. As engineered and natural nanomaterials share common properties, studies of cellular interactions with naturally occurring nanosized organisms and materials such as microorganisms, protein aggregates, and toxins provide a valuable source of information for addressing questions on the effects of engineered nanomaterials on human cells.

Results

Conclusion