Nanomaterials are being developed for nanomedical applications due to their unique physicochemical properties, such as small size, large surface area for functionalization or ligand conjugation, ability to cross biological barriers and cell membranes, and in vivo distribution. As such, nanoparticles can be applied as drug carriers, which enables increasing the circulation time, drug bioavailability, and accumulation in the target area. Because nanocarriers are often applied intravasally, some adverse effects on the circulatory system can occur upon their administration. The potential abnormalities or injuries to any or all parts of the cardiovascular system such as blood, blood vessels, and the heart can lead to serious health complications.
Despite their promising potential for the treatment of diseases, injectable/implantable nanomaterials can induce adverse reactions. Concerning the cardiovascular system, the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) might alter the viability, function, and structure of cardiovascular cells, including cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells. Exposure cells to different types of nanocarriers can cause inflammation, but also cell injury and death at increased particle concentrations. Immune reactions, such as activation of the complement system or neutrophils can occur upon intravascular injection. A further example of cardiovascular toxicity is the increased risk of occlusions in the blood vessels due to the activation of platelets or the blood coagulation cascade.
To achieve the future translation of promising drug carriers into the clinic, these risks posed by injectable/implantable nanomaterials must be eliminated. All studies investigating the opportunities of nanoparticles as drug carriers should also examine their possible negative effects.
This Research Topic addresses the adverse cardiovascular effects of different types of drug carriers, the development of tools/assays to investigate them, and the potential “safe-by-design“ solutions to reduce nanomaterial toxicity.
This Research Topic welcomes articles about investigations on the cardiovascular toxicity of nanomaterials, which have been developed to serve as drug carriers. Manuscripts describing possible adverse effects of drug carriers on blood cells and/or soluble blood components, oxidative stress in cardiac, endothelial, and/or immune cells, and potential toxicity on cardiac muscle and vascular tissues are sought. Articles describing the development of the tools/assays to investigate drug carrier toxicity and strategies to improve the biocompatibility of drug carriers are highly appreciated.
Submissions are welcome for the following article types: original research, review, mini-reviews, research protocol/method, opinion, and hypotheses.
Keywords:
nanoparticles, nanocarrriers, drug delivery, reactive oxygen species (ROS), inflammatory responses, immunogenicity, cell death
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
Nanomaterials are being developed for nanomedical applications due to their unique physicochemical properties, such as small size, large surface area for functionalization or ligand conjugation, ability to cross biological barriers and cell membranes, and in vivo distribution. As such, nanoparticles can be applied as drug carriers, which enables increasing the circulation time, drug bioavailability, and accumulation in the target area. Because nanocarriers are often applied intravasally, some adverse effects on the circulatory system can occur upon their administration. The potential abnormalities or injuries to any or all parts of the cardiovascular system such as blood, blood vessels, and the heart can lead to serious health complications.
Despite their promising potential for the treatment of diseases, injectable/implantable nanomaterials can induce adverse reactions. Concerning the cardiovascular system, the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) might alter the viability, function, and structure of cardiovascular cells, including cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells. Exposure cells to different types of nanocarriers can cause inflammation, but also cell injury and death at increased particle concentrations. Immune reactions, such as activation of the complement system or neutrophils can occur upon intravascular injection. A further example of cardiovascular toxicity is the increased risk of occlusions in the blood vessels due to the activation of platelets or the blood coagulation cascade.
To achieve the future translation of promising drug carriers into the clinic, these risks posed by injectable/implantable nanomaterials must be eliminated. All studies investigating the opportunities of nanoparticles as drug carriers should also examine their possible negative effects.
This Research Topic addresses the adverse cardiovascular effects of different types of drug carriers, the development of tools/assays to investigate them, and the potential “safe-by-design“ solutions to reduce nanomaterial toxicity.
This Research Topic welcomes articles about investigations on the cardiovascular toxicity of nanomaterials, which have been developed to serve as drug carriers. Manuscripts describing possible adverse effects of drug carriers on blood cells and/or soluble blood components, oxidative stress in cardiac, endothelial, and/or immune cells, and potential toxicity on cardiac muscle and vascular tissues are sought. Articles describing the development of the tools/assays to investigate drug carrier toxicity and strategies to improve the biocompatibility of drug carriers are highly appreciated.
Submissions are welcome for the following article types: original research, review, mini-reviews, research protocol/method, opinion, and hypotheses.
Keywords:
nanoparticles, nanocarrriers, drug delivery, reactive oxygen species (ROS), inflammatory responses, immunogenicity, cell death
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.