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According to literature consensus, nanoparticles are particulate material either engineered or produced naturally, with at least one dimension of 100 nm or less. Currently, an absurd quantity of nanoparticles has been produced with the most different purposes. The establishment of nanoparticles capable of interacting with biological systems in a predictable and controlled way has enabled the development of unprecedented techniques called nanomedicine. The nanomedicine has revolutionized the medical sciences by introducing new diagnostics and treatments at the frontier of knowledge. Such a revolution was possible by varying shapes, sizes, and surfaces of nanoparticles formed by different materials. However, nanoparticles’ use comes along with the risk of potentially adverse effects in natural systems. The increasing application of nanoparticles, both quantitatively and by product diversity, will lead to a diversification in emission sources into the environment. The interaction of particles, which eventually reach the environment, with the biological systems still lacks detailed studies. Therefore, understanding the effect and mechanism of nanoparticle cell interactions, and consequent cellular responses, requires a careful examination including morphological and biochemical aspects. In this chapter, we will discuss basic aspects of nanoparticles interaction in biological systems regarding their application in nanomedicine as well as the potentially unwanted interactions when this nanostructured material is dumped into the environment as an environmental pollutant. |
