Effect of size and functionalization of pharmaceutical nanoparticles and their interaction with Biological Systems

Abstract

This work reflects the need to have information on physicochemical properties of pharmaceutical nanoparticles and their interaction with biological systems, especially properties like particle size and surface functionalization that give special features when nanoparticles go through membranes, during opsonization, against immunogenicity, different toxicities, etc. This work aims to help new researchers to better understand the close relationship between pharmaceutical nanoparticles and their properties and their effects on biological systems and also contribute to nanotechnologists to take into account this situation and be aware that their responsibility does not end with the development and manufacture of these nanosystems. This chapter was written for specialist in different areas to enrich its content, and it is not the vision of a single author. We collaborated in this document nanotechnologists, toxicologists, and pharmaceutical technologists to give a critical approach to the imminent progress of nanotechnology in many areas of the knowledge such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, foods, chemical industry, computer industry, etc. Interaction of nanoparticles with human tissues, plants, animals, soils, water, air, etc. is inevitable because in the future, nanoparticles will be an important source of pollution and we must know how they interact with the surroundings depending on their physicochemical properties. Currently, a new branch of Nanotechnology called Nanotoxicology has been developed to deal with these dilemmas and in the future will be much more important than nowadays. Standardized protocols must be established to evaluate the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity caused by nanostructures.