Nanotoxicology : role of physical and chemical characterization and related in vitro, in vivo, and in silico methods

Nanomaterials are versatile materials with a vast repertoire of properties and potential applications. It is expected that they will be used in progressively incremental quantities in the future, giving rise to concerns about to their potential impact on living beings and the environment. The science of studying these effects of nanomaterials can be termed as “Nanotoxicology.” Nanotoxicology has evolved to date based on a combination of several in vitro, in silico, and in vivo experimental studies. Epidemiological information on nanomaterials is still lacking, rendering our understanding of these new materials, incomplete. This chapter makes a case for taking this field one step further in terms of combining in vitro, in vivo, and in silico methods to obtain an in-depth understanding of safety aspects associated with broad classes of nanomaterials in a manner never tried before. This combined approach is especially necessary in light of evolving regulations pertaining to nanomaterials, and the possibility of avoiding epidemiological challenges through in silico predictions (also known as computer-based simulations of complex biological phenomena). An overview of approaches to characterize nanomaterials, and the regulations associated with them will also be presented in this chapter