Genotoxicity of nanomaterials, discrepancies and challenges [Genotoxicidad de los nanomateriales, grandes discrepancias y desafíos]

Abstract

Asociacion Espanola de Toxicologia. All rights reserved.Nanotechnology is the study, design, creation, synthesis, manipulation and application of materials through the control of matter at the nanometer scale, between 1-100 nanometers. Nanotechnology is revolutionizing our world. Nanomaterials are widely used in various fields thanks to their unique properties. However, nanomaterials can also result in adverse health effects and the environment, it is necessary to know the risks and factors that increase these effects. In this review we focus on nanomaterials and their types, the toxic aspects of nanoparticles; with emphasis on the genotoxic effects and DNA damage that can initiate or promote carcinogenesis or affect fertility as well as the guidelines for the application of genotoxicity tests. Although there is some evidence of changes that occur when cells are exposed to nanomaterials, there is still a dearth of consistent results in the literature and in regulatory documents in terms of physicochemical characteristics of nanomaterials, their mechanisms, and exposure.