Toxicology of mesoporous silica particles and their uses in nanomedicine

Nanomaterials are being explored intensely for applications in pharmaceutical sciences and nanomedicine. The same properties of these materials that make them interesting for the development of novel excipients, therapies and diagnostics are those which often make them potentially harmful. A thorough investigation of the interaction of any new nanomaterial with the immune system, coupled with both generic and specific toxicological information must hence be conducted. However, in many instances common toxicological assays and endpoints are not applicable and may need revising. Here, we highlight some of these barriers using mesoporous silica materials as an example and suggest some important material properties to be taken into account when performing a full toxicological appraisal.