Back to Journals » Nanotechnology, Science and Applications » Volume 5

The effect of nanoparticle uptake on cellular behavior: disrupting or enabling functions?

Authors Panariti, Miserocchi, Rivolta I 

Received 20 June 2012

Accepted for publication 31 July 2012

Published 7 September 2012 Volume 2012:5 Pages 87—100

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/NSA.S25515

Checked for plagiarism Yes

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 4



Alice Panariti, Giuseppe Miserocchi, Ilaria Rivolta

Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy

Abstract: Nanoparticles (NPs) are materials with overall dimensions in the nanoscale range. They have unique physicochemical properties, and have emerged as important players in current research in modern medicine. In the last few decades, several types of NPs and microparticles have been synthesized and proposed for use as contrast agents for diagnostics and imaging and for drug delivery; for example, in cancer therapy. Yet specific targeting that will improve their delivery still represents an unsolved challenge. The mechanism by which NPs enter the cell has important implications not only for their fate but also for their impact on biological systems. Several papers in the literature discuss the potential risks related to NP exposure, and more recently the concept that even sublethal doses of NPs may elicit a cell response has been proposed. In this review, we intend to present an overall view of cell mechanisms that may be perturbed by cell–NP interaction. Published data, in fact, emphasize that NPs should no longer be viewed only as simple carriers for biomedical applications, but that they can also play an active role in mediating biological effects.

Keywords: nanoparticles, uptake, intracellular trafficking, bio compatibility

Creative Commons License © 2012 The Author(s). This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License. By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.