In recent years nanomaterials have started to become more popular, but some are worried that potential risks could accompany them. A team of researchers decided to examine the biological impact of nanomaterials, and the results are quite impressive.
Nanomaterials are used for several processes and tasks. For example, they are used for the manufacturing of dyes, medicine, cosmetics, and electronic products. Nanomaterials are determined by size. This means that any material with a size between 1 to 100 nanometers can be defined as a nanomaterial.
Since one nanometer is equal to one-millionth of a millimeter, its size is quite impressive. However, the reduced size also allows them to penetrate the body without problems. They can reach the body from the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, or skin and lead to the appearance of potentially negative impacts.
Scientists Study the Biological Impact of Nanomaterials
To prevent such problems, each nanomaterial should be tested to see if it can cause health issues before they are produced and used at a commercial level. Individual tests are now mandatory and have to be conducted for each size variation since even minor changes can impact the toxicity rating.
The team of researchers performed a series of in vitro experiments by exposing he epithelial cells, which can be found in the lungs of rats to a large range of nanomaterials. A series of techniques known as multi-omics were employed to perform the task and gather relevant data. Among the data collected by the researchers, we can mention the presence of amino acids and lipids within the cell and manner in which signals were sent.
Nanomaterials with a high toxicity rating will trigger oxidative stress, which can be spotted among some proteins present in the cell. Select proteins could be used as biomarkers in the future, allowing researchers to detect potentially damaging effects quickly. The current result will pave the way for future research. A study was published in a scientific journal.