Review on nanotoxicology and nano-bio interactions: influencing factors, assessment methods, mechanisms, and applications

Nanotechnology serves as a nanoscale interface that directly bridges our perception of the macroscopic world with the intricate nanoworld where individual biomolecules reside. This technology has emerged as a luminary in the domains of biology and medicine, paving the way for novel medical research. However, the widespread and indiscriminate use of nanomaterials raises significant concerns regarding environmental, health, and safety issues for the public. Hence, understanding the toxicological properties of nanomaterials in biological interactions becomes pivotal for their safe application. A key challenge in this field lies in the complex and dynamic nature of nano-bio interactions, the strong dependence of toxicity on the physicochemical properties of nanomaterials, and the lack of standardized and predictive toxicity assessment methods capable of supporting reliable risk evaluation and safe-by-design strategies. This review article delves into the potential biological risks and influencing factors contributing to the toxicity of common nanomaterials. Additionally, it explores the mechanisms underlying nano-bio interactions and applications of nanomedicine. The antiviral strategies based on nanomaterials are also introduced, and the possible risks and benefits of nanomaterials in specific nanomedicine applications are described through illustrative examples. Future research should focus on integrating artificial intelligence and advanced models for predictive toxicology, alongside long-term biosafety studies. The goal of this review is to facilitate a deeper understanding of the underlying biological processes between nanomaterials and biological systems. We strive for solving the problem of reducing the threats in the initial stage of nano-products design, ultimately providing theoretical support for better research on nanotoxicology.