title: Interactions of engineered nanoparticles with organs protected by internal biological barriers.
abstract: Engineered nanomaterials may exert adverse effects on human health which, in turn, may be linked to their propensity to cross biological barriers in the body. Here, available evidence is discussed, based on in vivo studies for interactions of commercially relevant nanoparticles with critical internal barriers. The internal barriers in focus in this review are the blood-brain barrier, protecting the brain, the blood-testis barrier, protecting the male germ line, and the placenta, protecting the developing fetus. The route of exposure (pulmonary, gastro-intestinal, intravenous, intraperitoneal, dermal), and, hence, the portal of entry of nanoparticles into the body, is of critical importance. Different physico-chemical properties, not only size, may determine the ability of nanoparticles to breach biological barriers; the situation is further compounded by the formation of a so-called corona of biomolecules on the surfaces of nanoparticles, the composition of which may vary depending on the route of exposure and the translocation of nanoparticles from one biological compartment to another. The relevance of nanoparticle interactions with internal biological barriers for their impact on the organs protected by these barriers is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy. pietroiu@uniroma2.it
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pietroiusti
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Campagnolo
authors.forename: Bengt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fadeel
mesh_terms: D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D001814:Blood-Testis Barrier; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053758:Nanoparticles; D010599:Pharmacokinetics; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy