Cellular response to nanobiomaterials

Abstract

The application of nanobiomaterials in biomedical field is rapidly processing, especially in the areas where conventional approaches have limited success. Cell fate is mainly influenced by interactions between cells and their microenvironment. The effective use of several nanostructures in implants, prosthetics, tissue engineering scaffolds, and drug delivery systems is relied upon the interaction between cells and nanobiomaterials. Desirable cellular response on nanobiomaterials is crucial to avoid inflammatory response and to ensure safe excretion from the body or integration into the host tissue. Such responses are controlled by the interaction of nanomaterials with individual cells at cellular and molecular level. These nanoparticle-cell interactions occur between various cellular components such as extracellular matrix, cell membrane, intracellular components, biomolecules, and nucleus mainly dictated by morphological and surface properties of nanobiomaterials. This chapter describes how various properties of nanobiomaterials including shape, size, surface charge, and functional properties influence their interaction with cells and cellular components. Available information regarding the interaction between various types of inorganic and organic nanoparticles and various cellular components is provided.