The nanosilica hazard: another variable entity

Silica nanoparticles (SNPs) are produced on an industrial scale and are an addition to a growing number of commercial products. SNPs also have great potential for a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic applications in medicine. Contrary to the well-studied crystalline micron-sized silica, relativel...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Particle and fibre toxicology Vol. 7; no. 1; p. 39
Main Authors: Napierska, Dorota, Thomassen, Leen CJ, Lison, Dominique, Martens, Johan A, Hoet, Peter H
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: London BioMed Central 03.12.2010
BioMed Central Ltd
Springer Nature B.V
BMC
Subjects:
Air Pollutants, Occupational - toxicity
Animals
Aqueous solutions
Atoms & subatomic particles
Biocompatibility
Biological effects
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Blood-brain barrier
Cell Line
Cell Survival - drug effects
Chemical properties
Crystal structure
Cytotoxicity
Development and progression
Environmental Health
Health aspects
Humans
Inflammation
Inhalation
Inhalation Exposure
Nanomaterials
Nanoparticles
Nanoparticles - toxicity
Nanotechnology
Particle Size
Pharmacology/Toxicology
Pneumology/Respiratory System
Public Health
Quartz
R&D
Research & development
Review
Risk Assessment
Risk factors
Silica
Silicon Dioxide - chemical synthesis
Silicon Dioxide - classification
Silicon Dioxide - toxicity
Surface chemistry
Belgium
Amorphous Silica
Silica Material
Fumed Silica
Silica Particle
Silicosis
ISSN:1743-8977, 1743-8977
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Silica nanoparticles (SNPs) are produced on an industrial scale and are an addition to a growing number of commercial products. SNPs also have great potential for a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic applications in medicine. Contrary to the well-studied crystalline micron-sized silica, relatively little information exists on the toxicity of its amorphous and nano-size forms. Because nanoparticles possess novel properties, kinetics and unusual bioactivity, their potential biological effects may differ greatly from those of micron-size bulk materials. In this review, we summarize the physico-chemical properties of the different nano-sized silica materials that can affect their interaction with biological systems, with a specific emphasis on inhalation exposure. We discuss recent in vitro and in vivo investigations into the toxicity of nanosilica, both crystalline and amorphous. Most of the in vitro studies of SNPs report results of cellular uptake, size- and dose-dependent cytotoxicity, increased reactive oxygen species levels and pro-inflammatory stimulation. Evidence from a limited number of in vivo studies demonstrates largely reversible lung inflammation, granuloma formation and focal emphysema, with no progressive lung fibrosis. Clearly, more research with standardized materials is needed to enable comparison of experimental data for the different forms of nanosilicas and to establish which physico-chemical properties are responsible for the observed toxicity of SNPs.
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ISSN:1743-8977
1743-8977
DOI:10.1186/1743-8977-7-39