Dear Colleagues,

Engineered Nanoparticles (ENPs), 1–100 nm, at least in one dimension, are synthesized intentionally for commercial use. ENPs consist of diverse carbon-, metal-, and metal oxide and biomaterial-based products, including (i) three-dimensional nanometric structures, such as colloids, fullerenes, dendrimers, and quantum dots; (ii) two-dimensional nanometric fibers, such as nanotubes, nanowires, nanofibrils and nanorods; and (iii) one-dimensional nanometric plates, such as graphene sheet. All ENPs, irrespective of their shape and chemical structure, reveal common size-dependent properties not present in larger bulk particles, possibly because as the size of particles decrease to the nanoscale, their surface area per unit volume increase exponentially, resulting in a shift from core- to surface-based properties. At the nano-range, size reduction results in (i) a transitions from classic mechanics to quantum mechanics due to electron confinement when metals become semi-conductors (quantum dots); (ii) an increase in mechanical adhesion and capillary forces; (iii) a drop in melting point; (iv) increase in tunneling current; (v) blue shift in optical properties; and (vi) superparamagnetic shift. These unique properties of ENPs are being exploited by the industry to design and market new electronic, mechanical, medicinal, environmental, daily use (such as tooth paste), cosmetic, and food products every day.

Unfortunately, the unique physicochemical properties that has exploded their commercial applications also has exponentially increased their toxicity and adverse effects. In general, at equal mass, the biological and toxicological response following exposure to ENPs is greater than for corresponding bulk particles. More importantly, the biological and toxicological effects of ENP correlate more to the size, shape, number of particles and surface functionalization than to the mass (dose). Thus, a dose-response relationship, commonly used in current risk assessment strategies may not characterize health risks of ENPs. The scientific literature cannot yet determine the best parameter to measure ENP exposure since each chemically identical ENP preparation, depending on its size, shape and surface functionalization, may exhibit its own toxicity. Despite risk-uncertainties, thousands of nanoparticle-based household, pharmaceutical, medical, cosmetic and food products are currently available, and the list will grow in future. The nanoparticle-based products may represent a serious health risks for workers and consumers both. Therefore, for greater public safety, there is an urgent need to address the biological, toxicological and public safety issues related to the EPNs

In this Special Issue, contributions (original research, review articles, case reports or letters) addressing materials science, medicine, molecular biology, bioinformatics, toxicology (focus on size, shape and surface-property dependence) and public health issues related to the use and development of chemically and structurally diverse ENPs with different surface modifications are invited. The ENPs generated for purposeful food, medicines, diagnostics, prosthetics, cosmetics, electronics and clothing is of greater interest. The key topics include, but not limited to: size-dependent physicochemical, electronic, magnetic, biological, medical and toxicological properties, surface functionalization, green synthesis of nanoparticles, mechanistic toxicity of chemically diverse ENPs, risk assessment approaches, etc.

Dr. Ashok K. Singh
Guest Editor

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• Biodegradable Polymeric Nanoparticles
• Biological properties
• Biomaterial nanoparticles
• Blue-shift optical properties
• Carbon nano-dots
• Carbon nanotubes
• Cosmetics application
• Dendrimers
• Dose-response relationship
• Engineered Nanoparticles (EPNs)
• Food products containing ENPs
• Fullerenes
• Gold and silver colloidal nanoparticles
• Green synthesis
• Magnetic nanoparticles