Bioimpacts of nanoparticle size: why it matters?

Abstract

During the last two decades, applications of nanotechnology are delivered to benefit the human society. The fact is that various nanomaterials are able to be tailor made to achieve desired properties. In biomedical field, nanotechnology has created great excitements to advance both diagnosis and therapy areas - the field so-called nanomedicines in different forms of nanoparticles (NPs) and nanosystems (NSs). It is noteworthy to mention NPs/NSs do not act similarly in the biological milieu, in which their biological behaviors/ impacts varies with size, morphology, and physicochemical characteristics. On the other hand, nanomedicines impacts on biological systems seem to be influenced by its possible interaction(s) with different bioelements of cell membrane, in particular the endocytic pathway(s) by which NPs/NSs can be internalized and localized. This latter phenomenon is influenced by membrane viscoelastic property, polymerization/depolymerization of cytoskeletal system, and the particle specification itself. Among all other properties of NPs/NSs, as shown by various researchers, the size is an important parameter in the fate of the particle. Accordingly, in-depth efforts to unravel the size dependent effects of nanomedicins can provide insights to design and develop more efficacious NSs with greater benefits and lower side effects. This editorial aims to highlight some important aspects of size dependent impacts NPs/NSs.