Understanding and Controlling of Immunotoxicity of Nanomaterials

Dear Colleagues,

Human and environmental exposure to nanomaterials has become an unavoidable reality. The expansion of nanotechnology means that products featuring nanoparticles as functional or supporting materials are now a part of our day-to-day lives. Understanding of the ways that nanomaterials interact with biological systems is crucial, that we might anticipate biological risks and establish criteria for designing nanomaterials and nano-enabled products that are as safe as possible.

After decades of research, we have identified factors that lead to the adverse interaction of nanomaterials with biological systems; this knowledge provides the basis for conceptual frameworks within which to assess and manage the risks of using nanomaterials. As often occurs in scientific research, improved knowledge of immunotoxicology has brought still unresolved uncertainties to the fore: the physicochemical heterogeneity of nanoparticles does not allow us to draw more general conclusions; the details of nanomaterials’ interactions with cells and organisms are largely unknown; and the transformation of nanoparticles moving through different biological compartments makes it extremely difficult to establish safe amounts. As of today, these uncertainties still prevent the adoption of effective regulatory and protective rules. With the aim of marking a further step towards understanding and controlling the immunotoxicity of nanomaterials (which is a multi-faceted objective), this Special Issue collates a series of original articles focusing on new findings in immunotoxicity, including theoretical and experimental methods for understanding the interaction of nanoparticles with biological systems, statistical methods of estimating risk, and strategies for mitigating the risks posed by hazardous nanoparticles.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Felice Carlo Simeone
Guest Editor

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• physicochemical drivers of hazards
• mechanisms of hazards
• pathways of adverse outcomes
• modelling of risk
• immunotoxicity
• nanotoxicology
• dosimetry
• risk assessment
• change grouping strategies
• safety by design