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Nanomaterials: Properties, Toxicity, Safety, and Drug Delivery

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Nanotechnology Applied To Pharmaceutical Technology

Abstract

The nanotechnology field has considerably increased in recent years, playing an important role in the pharmaceutical industry. However, this emerging science presents uncertainties and shortcomings regarding toxicological effects in human and ecological systems. It was possible to achieve a range of drugs and cosmetics that have specific properties using nanotechnology . In drug delivery systems, nanotechnology has demonstrated great potential because of its ability to induce desired pharmacological responses. The nanocomposites used in the production of sunscreens provide effective protection against damages caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation. However, recent studies have shown the toxicity of some UV filters to health and the environment. These studies demonstrated that the compounds of sunscreens are capable of reaching the marine environment after released from human skin during the bath through water treatment plants. It is important to know the physical characteristics and chemical composition of the working nanomaterial before starting a research because that information will be relevant keys to a better understanding about the risks evaluation of the study object. The comparisons of biological/toxicological data between nanomaterials should be evaluated by a detailed physical characterization of each material in order to demonstrate similarities and differences between all substances. Factors such as size, aggregation/agglomeration state, aggregates/clusters, surface area and shape of the nanomaterials should be considered for the risk assessments they may cause to humans and the environment.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Natural Sciences and Technology, State University of Pará—UEPA, Belém, PA, Brazil

    Luiza Helena da Silva Martins

  2. Nanobiotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, SGB Amravati University, Amravati, Maharashtra, 444602, India

    Mahendra Rai

  3. School of Chemical Engineering, University of Campinas—UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brazil

    João Moreira Neto, Andrea Komesu & Debora Kono Taketa Moreira

  4. School of Nutrition, Institute of Health Sciences, Federal University of Pará—UFPA, Belém, PA, Brazil

    Johnatt Allan Rocha de Oliveira & Júlia Helena da Silva Martins

  5. Center of Social Sciences and Education, State University of Pará—UEPA, Salvaterra, PA, Brazil

    Paulo Weslem Portal Gomes

Authors
  1. Luiza Helena da Silva Martins
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  2. Mahendra Rai
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  3. João Moreira Neto
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  4. Johnatt Allan Rocha de Oliveira
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  5. Júlia Helena da Silva Martins
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  6. Andrea Komesu
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  7. Debora Kono Taketa Moreira
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  8. Paulo Weslem Portal Gomes
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Correspondence to Luiza Helena da Silva Martins .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, SGB Amravati University, Amravati, Maharashtra, India

    Mahendra Rai

  2. School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sorocaba, Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil

    Carolina Alves dos Santos

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Martins, L.H.S. et al. (2017). Nanomaterials: Properties, Toxicity, Safety, and Drug Delivery. In: Rai, M., Alves dos Santos, C. (eds) Nanotechnology Applied To Pharmaceutical Technology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70299-5_15

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