The field of nanotechnology has grown exponentially during the last few decades, due in part to the use of nanoparticles in many manufacturing processes, as well as their potential as clinical agents for treatment of diseases and for drug delivery. This has created several new avenues by which humans can be exposed to nanoparticles. Unfortunately, investigations assessing the toxicological impacts of nanoparticles (i.e. nanotoxicity), as well as their possible risks to human health and the environment, have not kept pace with the rapid rise in their use. This has created a gap-in-knowledge and a substantial need for more research. Studies are needed to help complete our understanding of the mechanisms of toxicity of nanoparticles, as well as the mechanisms mediating their distribution and accumulation in cells and tissues and their elimination from the body. This review summarizes our knowledge on nanoparticles, including their various applications, routes of exposure, their potential toxicity and risks to human health.

在过去的几十年中，纳米技术领域呈指数级增长，部分原因是在许多制造过程中使用了纳米颗粒，以及它们作为治疗疾病和药物输送的临床药物的潜力。这创造了几种新的途径，人类可以通过这些途径接触纳米粒子。不幸的是，评估纳米颗粒的毒理学影响（即纳米毒性）以及它们对人类健康和环境可能造成的风险的调查并没有跟上其使用的快速增长。这造成了知识差距和对更多研究的大量需求。需要研究来帮助我们完成对纳米粒子毒性机制的理解，以及介导它们在细胞和组织中的分布和积累以及它们从体内清除的机制。这篇综述总结了我们对纳米粒子的了解，包括它们的各种应用、接触途径、它们的潜在毒性和对人类健康的风险。