Immunotoxicity of Nanoparticles

In this chapter, we review the latest and main research findings on anthropic nanoparticles (NPs) from the immune-cytotoxicological perspective aiming at defining the intrinsic chemical-physical and the extrinsic (acquired by the interaction with the environment) characteristics of the nano-systems to which the immune system appears to be unresponsive, tolerant, or anergic. The hereby outlined presumptive and speculative determinants of immune compatibility of nanoparticulate matters, although based on experimental data, represent a basic information for the design of new biocompatible nanomatters; finally, they represent an evaluation tool for potential immune outcome in professionally involved workers and may be important to enhance the exertion of risk assessment.