Toxicology of Drug Nanocarriers
Keywords:
nanoparticles, drugs, ecotoxicology, nanotoxicological classification systems, toxicity of nanocarriersAbstract
Nanoparticles can be found everywhere in the environment. They are produced in various natural or industrial processes and also for research purposes. They are widely used in tissue engineering, in nanodiagnostics and as nanopharmaceuticals. The safety of nanoparticles application is also discussed. Generally nanoparticles (<100 nm) show significantly different physical properties compared with submicroparticles or microparticles. They are able to affect vital processes in cells. This review also deals with the ways of their penetration in the human body and their potential health risk and discusses the principles of nanoparticle classification.