ABSTRACT
With the development of nanotechnology, nanomaterials are being widely used in manyindustries aswell as in medicine and pharmacology. Despite the many proposed advantages of nanomaterials,increasing concerns have been expressed on their potential adverse human health effects. In recentyears, application of nanotechnology in medicine has been defined as nanomedicine. Techniquesin nanomedicine make it possible to deliver therapeutic agents into targeted specific cells, cellularcompartments, tissues, and organs by using nanoparticulate carriers. Because nanoparticlespossess different physicochemical properties than their fine-sized analogues due to their extremelysmall size and large surface area, they need to be evaluated separately for toxicity and adversehealth effects. In addition, in the field of nanomedicine, intravenous and subcutaneous injectionsof nanoparticulate carriers deliver exogenous nanoparticles directly into the human body withoutpassing through thenormal absorption process. These nanoparticulate carriers themselves maybe responsible for toxicity and interaction with biological macromolecules within the human body.Second, insoluble nanoparticulate carriers may accumulate in human tissues or organs. Therefore,it is necessary to address the potential health and safety implications of nanomaterials used innanomedicine. Toxicological studies for biosafety evaluation of these nanomaterials will be importantfor the continuous development of nanomedical science. This review summarizes the currentknowledge on toxicology of nanomaterials, particularly on those used in nanomedicine.