Chapter 1: Immunological Properties of Engineered Nanomaterials: An Introduction

Clear benefits of using engineered nanoparticles for biomedical applications are often challenged by concerns about the safety of these materials. Since the main job of the immune system is to efficiently detect and eliminate foreign materials from the body, nanoparticle effects on and interaction with various components of the immune system are active areas of research in current bionanotechnology and nanomedicine. Nanoparticles can be engineered to either avoid immune recognition or to specifically interact with the immune system. Below, we will provide a top level overview of the current state of science in the area of nanoimmunotoxicology, highlight common challenges associated with research of immunological reactivity of engineered nanomaterials, identify current gaps in our understanding of nanoparticle interaction with components of the immune system, and introduce other chapters in this book.