Development of Nanotoxicology: Implications for Drug Delivery and Medical Devices

Abstract

Current nanotoxicology research suffers from suboptimal in vitro models, lack of in vitro–in vivo correlations, variability within in vitro protocols, deficits in both material purity and physicochemical characterization. Reliable nanomaterial toxicity and mechanistic insights are required for health and toxicity risk assessments. Much in vitro toxicological data is inconclusive in designating whether nanomaterials for drug delivery and medical device implants are truly safe. A critique is presented to analyze the interface between toxicology and nanopharmaceuticals. Deficiencies of existing practices in toxicology are reviewed and useful emerging techniques (e.g., lab-on-a-chip, tissue engineering, atomic force microscopy, high-content analysis) are highlighted. Cross-fertilization between disciplines will aid development of biocompatible delivery and implant platforms while improvements are being suggested for better translation of nanotoxicology.

Keywords::

• biomaterials
• high-content analysis
• lab-on-a-chip
• nanotoxicology
• predictive toxicology

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Research for this review has received funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013) under grant agreement no. 281035 (TRANS-INT) and also from the Science Foundation Ireland Centre for Medical Devices (CURAM; 13-RC-2073). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

Research for this review has received funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013) under grant agreement no. 281035 (TRANS-INT) and also from the Science Foundation Ireland Centre for Medical Devices (CURAM; 13-RC-2073). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.