Nanomaterials in biological systems
Nature Materials
June 15, 2009
State-of-the-art understanding of the interactions between nanomaterials and proteins, cells, DNA and other biological surfaces is reviewed online this week in Nature Materials.The review provides an analysis of how these interactions determine biocompatibility and set a framework for directing future research that combines nanotechnology with biological systems.
Nanomaterials are increasingly coming into contact with people and the environment, and understanding how they interact with biological systems is essential to ensure their safe use. Andre Nel and colleagues explain how the size, shape and structure of both the nanomaterial and biological surfaces influence the physicochemical reactions at an interface that is constantly changing. Focusing on nanoparticles in tissue culture and other biological media, the authors discuss the effects of the fundamental forces on processes such as cellular uptake.
doi: 10.1038/nmat2442
Research highlights
-
Jul 22
Electronics: Plastic microprocessor flexes its powerNature
-
Jul 20
Astronomy: Event Horizon Telescope zooms in on another black holeNature Astronomy
-
Jul 15
Quantum computing: A step towards error-corrected quantum computersNature
-
Jul 6
Astronomy: Black holes throw their weight aroundNature Astronomy
-
Jul 6
Physics: ATLAS experiment measurements support universal truth of particle physicsNature Physics
-
Jul 1
Physics: The next generation of atomic clocks in spaceNature
