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10.3
4.8
Journals
Nanomaterials
Special Issues
Toxicology of Nanoparticles
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Toxicology of Nanoparticles

A Special Issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991) belonging to the section "Biology and Medicines".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 April 2027 | Viewed by 4130

Editors

Dr. Man Qu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Nursing & School of Public Health, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225000, China
Interests: nanotoxicology and nanosafety; environmental toxicology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Lu Kong

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210000, China
Interests: reproductive toxicity based on nanomaterials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanoparticles, which are particles with at least one dimension smaller than 100 nm, hold great potential for advancements in various fields. However, with the increasing prevalence and widespread application of nanoparticles, concerns regarding their potential toxicity have become more pronounced. Despite the utilization of numerous animal models and cell-line-based simulations to assess the toxicity of nanoparticles and elucidate the underlying mechanisms, many aspects of nanotoxicity remain unclear. Therefore, it is imperative to gain a deeper understanding of this issue and identify potential solutions.

The objective of this Special Issue is to compile the most recent advancements in the field of nanoparticle toxicology. Our Special Issue has significant predictive potential for enhancing our comprehension of the potential biological effects, behaviour, and underlying mechanisms of nanoparticles.

This Special Issue will focus on the following topics:

  1. Safety assessment of emerging nanoparticles;
  2. Physiological, cellular, and/or molecular mechanisms underlying the toxicity of nanoparticles;
  3. Screening of low-toxicity or non-toxic nanoparticles;
  4. In vivo transportation and distribution of nanoparticles;
  5. Pharmacological strategies and toxicity prevention measures for nanoparticles;
  6. Ecotoxicological evaluation and model-animal-based toxicology for nanoparticles.

Dr. Man Qu
Dr. Lu Kong
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nanotoxicology
  • safety assessment
  • molecular mechanisms
  • emerging nanoparticles
  • nanotoxicity prevention

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 5586 KB  
Article
Exposure, Cytotoxicity and Cellular Uptake of Silver (Ag) and Gold (Au) Nanoparticles in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells During Nanoparticle Synthesis
by Mosima Letsoalo, Charlene Andraos, Masilu Masekameni and Mary Gulumian
Nanomaterials 2026, 16(11), 687; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16110687 - 1 Jun 2026
Viewed by 711
Abstract
Silver (Ag) and gold (Au) nanoparticles (NPs) are widely used in biomedicine, electronics, and catalysis, but their potential toxicity raises occupational health concerns. This study assessed the cytotoxicity and cellular interactions of Ag and Au NPs in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) using [...] Read more.
Silver (Ag) and gold (Au) nanoparticles (NPs) are widely used in biomedicine, electronics, and catalysis, but their potential toxicity raises occupational health concerns. This study assessed the cytotoxicity and cellular interactions of Ag and Au NPs in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) using a standardized OECD three-tiered approach, alongside characterization of lung-deposited surface area (LDSA) concentrations during NP synthesis, which remained within ranges typically reported in occupational environments. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that AgNPs formed irregular clusters (~8.7 nm primary size, >30 nm aggregates), whereas AuNPs remained spherical (~13.4 nm). Real-time cytotoxicity analysis (xCELLigence) showed acute toxicity of AgNPs at 5 μg/cm2, while AuNPs exhibited no cytotoxic effects. Dark-field and 3D hyperspectral imaging demonstrated that some AgNPs were internalized by BEAS-2B cells, whereas AuNPs remained mostly on the cell surface, indicating that uptake alone does not determine cytotoxicity. The greater dissolution potential of AgNPs and possible release of Ag+ ions may contribute to the enhanced cytotoxic effects observed in comparison to AuNPs, as suggested in previous studies. Although oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and related cellular mechanisms were not directly assessed in the present study, the findings demonstrate differential cellular responses following nanoparticle exposure under realistic occupational exposure conditions. These results contribute to understanding nanoparticle–cell interactions and support the need for further mechanistic investigations to inform safer nanomaterial use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicology of Nanoparticles)
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18 pages, 3669 KB  
Article
Toxicological Effects and Potential Therapeutics of Chronic Exposure to Polyurethane Nanoplastics in Caenorhabditis elegans
by Qinlin Wu, Chengjie Shu, Xingmin Liu, Zhuohang Li, Yiting Jing, Yaqi Deng, Yuhan An, Xinyi Jiang, Man Qu and Lei Fu
Nanomaterials 2026, 16(4), 220; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16040220 - 7 Feb 2026
Viewed by 913
Abstract
Despite growing concerns about the ecological and health risks of nanoplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations (ERCs), the effects of polyurethane nanoplastics (PU NPs) on environmental organisms remain unclear. This study assessed the toxicity of PU NPs in the μg/L range in Caenorhabditis elegans [...] Read more.
Despite growing concerns about the ecological and health risks of nanoplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations (ERCs), the effects of polyurethane nanoplastics (PU NPs) on environmental organisms remain unclear. This study assessed the toxicity of PU NPs in the μg/L range in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) through chronic exposure. Our results showed that 10 μg/L PU NP exposure significantly reduced brood size, head thrashes, and body bends, while 100 μg/L PU NP exposure decreased lifespan, and 1000 μg/L PU NP exposure increased mortality in wild-type C. elegans. Analysis of oxidative stress showed that both 10 and 1000 μg/L PU NP exposures elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS), SKN-1::GFP, and GST-4::GFP levels. Notably, while ROS production rose at 1000 μg/L, SKN-1::GFP and GST-4::GFP expression decreased compared to the 10 μg/L group, suggesting a compensatory response in C. elegans at lower exposure levels. The expression of oxidative stress-related genes and phenotype of differentially expressed genes indicated that C. elegans was in a compensatory phase when exposed to 10 μg/L of PU NPs, participating in the protective response of C. elegans to PU NPs. However, when exposed to 1000 μg/L of PU NPs, C. elegans was in a decompensatory phase, participating in the toxic regulation of PU NPs. In addition, under 10 μg/L PU NP exposure, cinnamon essential oil (CIEO) can enhance the expression of more antioxidant enzymes, thereby increasing the protective effect. Under 1000 μg/L PU NP exposure, CIEO could alleviate the toxic response of C. elegans to PU NPs exposure by promoting the expression of skn-1. Molecular docking analysis showed that the main active component of CIEO, cinnamaldehyde (CID), has a strong affinity with SKN-1/Nrf2. Our study is the first to emphasize the toxic effects of PU NPs on environmental organisms at ERCs and that CIEO might serve as a potential antidote for nanoplastic poisoning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicology of Nanoparticles)
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15 pages, 1655 KB  
Article
Sterilization Effects on Liposomes with Varying Lipid Chains
by Sarocha Cherdchom, Krit Pongpirul, Natchanon Rimsueb, Prompong Pienpinijtham and Amornpun Sereemaspun
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(19), 1478; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15191478 - 27 Sep 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1999
Abstract
Liposomes, nanoscale vesicles with distinct structural and functional properties, are widely utilized in drug delivery due to their biocompatibility and ability to encapsulate diverse therapeutic agents. Effective sterilization is essential to ensure the safety and efficacy of liposomal formulations in biomedical applications, yet [...] Read more.
Liposomes, nanoscale vesicles with distinct structural and functional properties, are widely utilized in drug delivery due to their biocompatibility and ability to encapsulate diverse therapeutic agents. Effective sterilization is essential to ensure the safety and efficacy of liposomal formulations in biomedical applications, yet its impact on liposome integrity and functionality remains inadequately studied. This work systematically evaluates the effects of three sterilization methods: autoclaving, UV radiation, and filtration—on liposomes composed of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC), two phospholipids differing in lipid chain length. Sterilization altered liposome properties in a lipid chain length-dependent manner, affecting particle size, zeta potential, and phospholipid content. Filtration caused significant hydrocarbon loss, confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy, and led to a higher reduction in phospholipid content in DPPC liposomes compared to DSPC liposomes. Biological evaluations showed that autoclaved and UV-irradiated DPPC liposomes exhibited higher cytotoxic and lower stability than their DSPC counterparts. While autoclaving and UV irradiation resulted in minimal chemical alterations, both methods significantly influenced biological properties. Filtration, although less disruptive to biocompatibility, also reduced key liposomal integrity and efficacy. This study underscores the critical importance of post-sterilization evaluation to optimize liposomal formulations for clinical and biomedical use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicology of Nanoparticles)
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