Inorganic Nanoparticles: Toxic Effects, Mechanisms of Cytotoxicityand Phytochemical Interactions
Rashid Bhatti
1* 
, Hadia Shakeel
1, Kausar Malik
1, Muhammad Qasim
2, Mohsin Ahmad Khan
3, Nadeem Ahmed
3, Shajia Jabeen
11 Molecular Medicine Lab, Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
2 Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
3 Development of Recombinant Biopharmaceuticals Lab, Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
Abstract
During the last few decades, nanotechnology has gained many applications in almost all fieldsof life because of the unique properties of nanoparticles (NPs). Nanotechnology has speciallymarked its name in the field of medicine. However, NPs toxicity is detrimental to human healthand is a prime concern in applied medicine. They can cause insomnia, vertigo, madarosis,epistaxis, hypokalemia, lymphopenia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, etc. There is agap in knowledge regarding the study of the toxicological effects of NPs. Mechanisms thatare responsible for this toxicity are not fully understood yet. Phytochemicals have naturaltherapeutic effects of reducing metal NPs’ toxicity by acting as stabilizers and nontoxicreducing agents. However, the interaction between phytochemicals and NPs is remained to beelucidated. This review will provide in-depth knowledge about the various types of inorganicNPs and their associated toxicities, key parameters determining the toxic behaviour of NPs, andthe mechanisms behind their cytotoxicity. It also emphasizes the need for further research tounderstand the interaction between various phytochemicals and NPs for therapeutic purposes.