title: Knowledge gaps between nanotoxicological research and nanomaterial safety.
abstract: With the wide research and application of nanomaterials in various fields, the safety of nanomaterials attracts much attention. An increasing number of reports in the literature have shown the adverse effects of nanomaterials, representing the quick development of nanotoxicology. However, many studies in nanotoxicology have not reflected the real nanomaterial safety, and the knowledge gaps between nanotoxicological research and nanomaterial safety remain large. Considering the remarkable influence of biological or environmental matrices (e.g., biological corona) on nanotoxicity, the situation of performing nanotoxicological experiments should be relevant to the environment and humans. Given the possibility of long-term and low-concentration exposure of nanomaterials, the reversibility of and adaptation to nanotoxicity, and the transgenerational effects should not be ignored. Different from common pollutants, the specific analysis methodology for nanotoxicology need development and exploration furthermore. High-throughput assay integrating with omics was highlighted in the present review to globally investigate nanotoxicity. In addition, the biological responses beyond individual levels, special mechanisms and control of nanotoxicity deserve more attention. The progress of nanotoxicology has been reviewed by previous articles. This review focuses on the blind spots in nanotoxicological research and provides insight into what we should do in future work to support the healthy development of nanotechnology and the evaluation of real nanomaterial safety.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China. Electronic address: huxiangang@nankai.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xiangang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
authors.forename: Dandan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Agro-Environmental Protection, Ministry of Agriculture, Tianjin 300191, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China. Electronic address: zhouqx@nankai.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Qixing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057166:High-Throughput Screening Assays; D006801:Humans; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000633:toxicity*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D012106:Research
keywords: High-throughput screening; Nanosafety; Nanotoxicology; Omics; Protein corona