Biological responses to and toxicity of nanoscale implant materials

Abstract

Nanomaterial safety and toxicity are of great importance for nanomaterial-based medical implants. A better understanding of the fate of nanomaterials after production and after implantation is clearly necessary. In terms of implant degradation, nanoscale materials can be generated and released into peripheral host tissues regardless of their constituent grain sizes (or other characteristic features, such as particle size). Unfortunately, the biological responses to and toxicity of nanoscale implant materials have not been sufficiently studied to date, partially due to the complexity of such studies and the lack of well-established methods to do so. In this chapter, the advances and progression of biological responses (especially concerning the toxicity of nanoscale implant materials either after production or implantation) are summarized. Prior to that discussion, host responses to implant materials and properties of nanomaterials pertinent to their altered biological responses are introduced.