Emerging aspects of nanotoxicology in health and disease: From agriculture and food sector to cancer therapeutics

Zoi Piperigkou; Konstantina Karamanou; Ayse Basak Engin; Chrysostomi Gialeli; Anca Oana Docea; Demitrios H Vynios; Mauro S G Pavão; Kirill S Golokhvast; Mikhail I Shtilman; Athanassios Argiris; Ekaterina Shishatskaya; Aristidis M Tsatsakis

doi:10.1016/j.fct.2016.03.003

Emerging aspects of nanotoxicology in health and disease: From agriculture and food sector to cancer therapeutics

Food Chem Toxicol. 2016 May:91:42-57. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2016.03.003. Epub 2016 Mar 8.

Affiliations

¹ Biochemistry, Biochemical Analysis & Matrix Pathobiology Research Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, Patras, Greece; Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Patras, Greece.
² Biochemistry, Biochemical Analysis & Matrix Pathobiology Research Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, Patras, Greece; Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biologia Cellular de Glicoconjugados, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
³ Gazi University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Toxicology, Hipodrom, Ankara, Turkey.
⁴ Biochemistry, Biochemical Analysis & Matrix Pathobiology Research Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, Patras, Greece; Lund University, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
⁵ Department of Toxicology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Craiova, Romania.
⁶ Biochemistry, Biochemical Analysis & Matrix Pathobiology Research Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, Patras, Greece.
⁷ Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biologia Cellular de Glicoconjugados, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
⁸ Scientific Educational Center of Nanotechnology, Far Eastern Federal University, Engineering School, Vladivostok, Russia.
⁹ Master School Biomaterials, D.I. Mendeleyev University of Chemical Technology, Moscow, Russia.
¹⁰ University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
¹¹ Medical Biology Department, Siberian Federal University, Russia.
¹² Center of Toxicology Science & Research, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece; Scientific Educational Center of Nanotechnology, Far Eastern Federal University, Engineering School, Vladivostok, Russia. Electronic address: aris@med.uoc.gr.

PMID: 26969113
DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2016.03.003

Abstract

Nanotechnology is an evolving scientific field that has allowed the manufacturing of materials with novel physicochemical and biological properties, offering a wide spectrum of potential applications. Properties of nanoparticles that contribute to their usefulness include their markedly increased surface area in relation to mass, surface reactivity and insolubility, ability to agglomerate or change size in different media and enhanced endurance over conventional-scale substance. Here, we review nanoparticle classification and their emerging applications in several fields; from active food packaging to drug delivery and cancer research. Nanotechnology has exciting therapeutic applications, including novel drug delivery for the treatment of cancer. Additionally, we discuss that exposure to nanostructures incorporated to polymer composites, may result in potential human health risks. Therefore, the knowledge of processes, including absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion, as well as careful toxicological assessment is critical in order to determine the effects of nanomaterials in humans and other biological systems. Expanding the knowledge of nanoparticle toxicity will facilitate designing of safer nanocomposites and their application in a beneficial manner.

Keywords: Extracellular matrix; Nanomedicine; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Nanotoxicology.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Agriculture*
Food Industry*
Humans
Nanotechnology*
Neoplasms / therapy*
Toxicology*