Engineered Nanomaterials: Understanding their Toxicity and Environmental Impacts

In recent years, nanotechnology research has focused on the field of hybrid nanoscale materials, derived from both biological and synthetic sources. Hybrid nanoscale materials can be designed and fabricated from either biological origin, such as lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, cells, or bacteria, or from synthetic origin. These nanostructures are recognized for their vast potential in clinical and industrial applications. However, despite the advantages, substantial limitations persist, especially concerning the biocompatibility and safety profiles required for widespread clinical use. The distribution of NPs in the blood and lymphatic systems, as well as their ability to enter nearly every cell, tissue, and organ and interact with different macromolecules to change their structure and interfere with intracellular works and organ function, are all factors that contribute to their toxicity. These factors pose significant risks, highlighting the immediate need for advancements in safety evaluations and regulatory frameworks.

The potential effects of nanostructures on human and environmental health raises serious concerns, due to the growing interest in employing them for medical purposes as well as their growing use in consumer goods and a variety of technical applications, such as apparel and food items. As a result of the growing production and use of nanostructures, “Nanotoxicology” has emerged as a new scientific field.

This Research Topic aims to consolidate current innovations and enhance knowledge regarding the safe application of nanomaterials, building a systems-level knowledge of toxicity and nanoparticle-biological interactions. This Topic will explore the dispersion, transformation, bio-nano interactions, and metabolism of nanoparticles, aiming to minimize their adverse effects on human health and the environment. The ultimate objective is to establish a framework for designing nanoparticles that are efficient yet demonstrably safe, with minimal environmental and human toxicity. The main focus is to ascertain the mechanistic toxicological, immunological, and genotoxic consequences that nanostructures with diverse physicochemical properties may cause at the cellular and molecular level.

In this context, we will welcome Original Research, Reviews, Mini-reviews, and Perspectives in, but not limited to, the following directions:

•     Elements that influence a nanoparticle toxicity

•     Analytical methods, computational and experimental strategies to assess the toxicity mechanisms of nanostructures;

•     Ecotoxicity assessment;

•     ADME of nanomaterials;

•     Safer direction for synthesis of nanomaterials.